January 10, 2016
After being under the weather and cooped up in our apartment for a week, we were in need of a revitalizing, upscale Sunday Brunch, so we headed to Catamaran Resort & Spa in Pacific Beach for a seafood and sushi-dominant buffet featuring bottomless champagne at the hotel's newly-redesigned, bayfront restaurant
Oceana Coastal Kitchen. What we didn't know is that we would also come away from brunch with a delicious dinner for later!
Oceana's coastal-inspired brunch is offered every Sunday from 10am to 2pm, and includes expansive bay views, indoor and al fresco seating, an 800-gallon moon jellyfish aquarium, unlimited champagne with a variety of juices, a buffet featuring sushi and exceptionally fresh raw bar selections, an array of other items including fresh fruits and cheeses, and a choice of one of eight entree options that can be taken to-go if you happen to fill up on seafood and other delights, like we certainly did.
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| Island shrimp salad |
We thought that the $58 price tag was a bit steep when we were contemplating where to head for Sunday brunch, but upon reflection, we definitely consumed our money's worth considering the value of the food and champagne. We took our time and began with mimosas - one with pineapple juice and the other with grapefruit. We then had our way with the raw bar. We started with snow crab claws, Alaskan King Crab legs and peel and eat shrimp. The charismatic overseers of the raw bar encouraged us to enjoy a couple of freshly shucked-to-eat oysters. We returned for a never ending selection of sushi options - rolls, sashimi, nigiri and maki. And returned. And returned.
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| Raw bar plate #1 of many |
Besides the sushi and raw bar, the buffet portion of Oceana's brunch included island shrimp salad, ceviche, smoked and cold poached salmon, fresh cut fruits, aromatic cheeses, pastries, bagels, cured meats, roasted vegetables, and assorted salads.
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| Snow crab claws & oysters to be shucked on the spot |
We were about four to five plates deep each, when our hospitable server checked in on us for a second time to see if we were ready to order our entrees. "You know, if you're filling up on the buffet options, you can do like many people choose to and take your entree to-go."
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| Raw bar |
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| One of four salad options |
"Wait, what?" I thought. A brunch buffet that lets you take food to-go?! Okay, not food from the buffet, of course, but even better. We thought our tanks were far from full and placed our orders before heading back up to the bar like the gluttonous beasts we are. I chose the roasted chicken "under a brick" with chili spiked broccolini and fingerling potatoes, and Lady SanDiegoVille ordered one of her favorite dishes - prime rib - here served with a pepper and rosemary crust, topped with au jus and a hearty serving of horseradish butter, sided by Brussels sprouts and potato gratin. She took a few bites. I took zero.
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| My brick chicken smelled sooo good! |
As things tend to go, we did find some room for dessert. There were so many options to choose from, like triple chocolate chip cookie bars, double-shot espresso crème Brûlée, warm bread pudding with bourbon vanilla sauce and other various cakes and cheese cakes. We opted for a chocolate pyramid that tasted remarkably like a Ferrero Rocher candy and some homemade crème Brûlée, which hinted of Flan. We were too stuffed to inquire.
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| Just a few of many dessert options |
After slugging around town for a bit and digesting the day away, we returned to our entree portions of our brunch for dinner. Wow, was that brick chicken fantastic, and the prime rib made an excellent steak sandwich! Oceana actually turned out to be quite the steal for brunch (and dinner).
Oceana Coastal Kitchen is located bayside in Pacific Beach inside the Catamaran Resort & Spa at 3999 Mission Boulevard. For more information, visit
catamaranresort.com.
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| Rich chocolate cake |
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| Bagels and pastries |
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| Prime rib - look at that butter! |
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| The biggest and meatiest king crab claw ever |
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| Smoked salmon |
