Dec 28 2008
Oceanside Harbor
We’ve just come from Oceanside Harbor, about 12 miles from home. We went there looking for a good buffet. Too bad we had just finished eating.
Usually we just eat somewhere on the line of Maine-harbor-looking little shops and restaurants on the south side of the harbor. They have some good eating there and when the weather is nice, you can eat outside. I’ve sat outside many times watching the boats in the harbor bob up and down, the sea gulls screaming for goodies, people strolling around.
Today, we’d been at Sizzlers for their buffet. I like that they do omelettes to order and you can also take from the salad bar. That means I’m not stuck with an omelette, toast, and coffee. Today, besides the omelette, I had a bit of crab salad, some canned pears, some sausage (not counting the bacon in my omelette) and a taste of the cheese toast.
Sunday brunch has become a tradition. It was easier getting it started than I thought. My husband had been taking me out for breakfast when he thought about it, which was nice, but I told him I’d like to be able to look forward to it. We decided on every Sunday after church.
In truth, this sets me up for lunch. I get up earlier on Sunday morning and by time church is out I’m ready to eat. However, my husband, a non-church goer, is just up and wants breakfast. Our part of California has a lot of places to eat. It’s a challenge to just remember which ones we like.
Well, what we investigated AFTER lunch was the brunch at the Monterrey Fish Company on Oceanside Harbor. We liked what we saw: crab legs, oysters, mussels, freshly made omelettes, ham and bacon, and lots of bread and cake goodies. You could have it with champagne if you liked. It was much nicer than what we had at Sizzler and about twice the price. For that extra sum, you not only got a grand selection of food, but champagne and tables and chairs outside where you could sit in the sun and watch the boats and such.
While we were there, we also checked the brunch at the Jolly Roger. The Jolly Roger is nearly at the end of the road that curves around the north end of the harbor. We’d been there several years earlier and wondered if the food had improved. At that time, the buffet was a half-hearted attempt at doing brunch and we’d quit going. However, years pass and cooks and managers change. It’s time we checked them out again.
We saw a lot of people riding bicycles and walking on the path. The path goes around most of the harbor.
Leaving Oceanside Harbor by the new bridge we drove past all the expensive condos (on the ocean, or with ocean views, or both), past the Oceanside pier and headed west for home. I think we’ll go back soon for brunch, especially when we have guests.
Marilynne
