Down-Low Diner: Googie Grill in Seaside, CA
Posted on February 19, 2015 at 9:22AM
Author: Allyson Thommen
George Jetson meets crazy good comfort food at the Googie Grill in Seaside, CA.
So what is “googie” you may ask? When you google “googie” (say that three times fast) you soon realize where the modern grill on Del Monte Boulevard acquired its unique name. Googie is a type of futurist architecture dating back to the 50s and 60s, think Tomorrowland at Disneyland.
The corner location across the street from the Embassy Suites is hard to miss and the Jetson-eque logo out front immediately sparks your interest. After continuously driving past the illuminated Googie Grill sign I just had to stop and take a peek inside.
Interestingly enough, the original building now houses the restaurant’s counter and kitchen which has kept its novel character with tilted walls and retro inspired panoramas.
The main dining room is a new addition to the revamped restaurant where the futurist and googie theme continues with cheery bright hues, modern furniture and geometric patterns.
After being seated I quickly realized this establishment is a passionate family affair; the service is friendly and cozy, just like their menu! Tempting comfort foods with an international flair are offered for every meal of the day but on this particular occasion I had dinner on the brain.
The grilled salmon salad started things off with a bang. Fresh ingredients like crunchy green beans, juicy red tomatoes and rich Kalamata olives were lightly dressed in sherry tarragon vinaigrette which had the perfect tang to accompany the moist salmon steak.
Another seafood showstopper was the sea bass sautéed with a creamy beurre blanc sauce. The risotto rice cake hidden below was lightly fried and acted as a sponge to capture every last morsel of the beurre blanc.
While every dish had a high point, the paella stopped me in my tracks! Generous portions of fresh clams, mussels, shrimp, chicken and sausage sat atop Spanish rice with the most savory saffron mix I have had. The peas were even cooked to perfection, not mushy which usually steers me away from this green seed pod.
To round out the comfort food bonanza we ordered the tiramisu, crème brulee and cheesecake. The tiramisu was almost too pretty to eat with the perfect ratio of cake to frosting. I am usually not a fan of tiramisu’s typically overpowering coffee flavors but Googie’s take had welcomed bursts of cinnamon, delish!
On my way out I got a quick look at the breakfast menu. The cheese blintzes, brioche French toast and ranch fresh omelets in particular had me wanting to stay until sunup. Is it 8am yet?!
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