A new restaurant in the Del Mar Plaza, The Cottage, is attracting attention since its opening in August. Both locals and tourists are excited to sit down for a steaming cup of coffee, and a plate of classic stacked pancakes, all a walking distance from the beach. Craving a yummy breakfast, my family and I decided to walk to The Cottage and see what all the buzz was about.
Restaurant parking is limited, with the Del Mar Plaza parking garage and only a few side streets offering only close parking. During peak brunch hours, around 10 a.m. to noon, parking in the indoor garage can become quite crowded, making it hard to navigate.
They offer spacious outdoor seating both inside and outside, making it wheelchair-accessible. Tables are surrounded by heaters on the outdoor patio, ensuring that guests will stay warm through colder months while enjoying a cozy breakfast or scrumptious lunch.
Pets are also welcome in the restaurant, and water bowls are provided for any furry friends in need of a cool drink. On the morning I visited, the restaurant was packed with families. The menu has a variety of dishes, from stuffed french toast to tuna melts.
Those who wanted to bike to the restaurant were able to eat and rest their bikes along the wall or fence outside, given that they did not get in the way of staff that were working and customers.
Upon visiting, the hostess welcomed us with a smile and a light conversation. We had gotten there at rush hour, about 10 a.m., and waited around 20 minutes to be seated. When the table was ready, we were led to a booth, where the seating was comfortable and the table was clean. The inside of the restaurant was cozy, with lots of comfortable seating options and calming background music.
We were quickly greeted by our server, who was attentive and knowledgeable about the restaurant. The menu, although vast, was lacking in gluten-free options, but presented a variety of vegan options. There were also some unique items on the menu, such as cinnamon swirl pancakes. I started with a glass of watermelon juice ($7). The juice was sweet yet still refreshing, and the portions were just right.
My main course was the Brioche French Toast ($17.50). The dish came with six halves, each being decently sized. The French toast was soft and sweet, and the butter they served with it gave it a nice savory element. However, it wasn’t super crispy and got soggy rather quickly. The dish was probably a 6/10.
We also ordered the Gluten-free Pancakes ($17.25). The pancake was quite large and fluffy. While soft, the pancake was quite grainy and had an off-putting aftertaste. The syrup that we paired it with was too sweet for my liking and created a bit of a mess, and it contributed to my overall rating of 6/10.
Our third plate, the Antojito Benedict ($19.75), a braised beef version of eggs benedict, was less flavorful and exciting than I expected, making it a 5/10. Despite the colorful description on the menu, the dish came a little cold, and the ingredients mixed to create a bland bite.
On the positive side, when I told our server about my peanut and tree nut allergy, they were very conscientious and accommodating, making sure to inform the kitchen about the allergy and informing me that the dish I ordered was nut-free.
There are still high hopes for The Cottage, given their reputation for being a go-to breakfast spot. While my initial experience was underwhelming, I am a big believer in second chances and look forward to giving it another try soon… maybe this time for lunch.