I found Beach Plum in a shopping center off El Camino Real and picked it over a few other unfamiliar restaurants in the same center because it looked nice. Or because I like plums and love the beach.
Whatever the reason, my hopes remained high when I stepped inside. It’s beautifully laid out, with a big patio of shaded tables outside and an upscale Denny’s vibe inside, complete with breakfast counter and a small taplist. The staff was nicer and more welcoming than any Denny’s I’ve known.
Service was prompt, and the menu was full of options: omelets, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, waffles, and sandwiches galore. I was an inch away from ordering pork belly hash (how could it not be good?), and then I spotted the buttermilk fried chicken & waffles.
The words still make me drool a little bit, even though I know how this turns out. I ordered chicken & waffles, and I was so happy about it that I added a biscuit to the order so I could try one of the restaurant’s house-made jams during the feast.
I’ve had great waffles before, even here in San Diego. These were pretty good. No harm there. But the chicken was flat. Like, a literally flat filet of chicken breast and…I’m not sure...some other parts involving dark meat. Without the natural chicken shapes, I can’t be sure which.
But worse than the literal flatness was the figurative flatness. This chicken lacked flavor. No buttermilk, no paprika, not even any discernible salt. A side of good honey mustard BBQ sauce may have helped, but this wasn’t even good mustard. It was meant only to obscure the blandness of the poultry.
The saving grace was the jam — strawberry basil — which tasted good despite a lackluster, dry biscuit. The jam I would eat again. Except next time I’ll take a chance on another restaurant.
I found Beach Plum in a shopping center off El Camino Real and picked it over a few other unfamiliar restaurants in the same center because it looked nice. Or because I like plums and love the beach.
Whatever the reason, my hopes remained high when I stepped inside. It’s beautifully laid out, with a big patio of shaded tables outside and an upscale Denny’s vibe inside, complete with breakfast counter and a small taplist. The staff was nicer and more welcoming than any Denny’s I’ve known.
Service was prompt, and the menu was full of options: omelets, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, waffles, and sandwiches galore. I was an inch away from ordering pork belly hash (how could it not be good?), and then I spotted the buttermilk fried chicken & waffles.
The words still make me drool a little bit, even though I know how this turns out. I ordered chicken & waffles, and I was so happy about it that I added a biscuit to the order so I could try one of the restaurant’s house-made jams during the feast.
I’ve had great waffles before, even here in San Diego. These were pretty good. No harm there. But the chicken was flat. Like, a literally flat filet of chicken breast and…I’m not sure...some other parts involving dark meat. Without the natural chicken shapes, I can’t be sure which.
But worse than the literal flatness was the figurative flatness. This chicken lacked flavor. No buttermilk, no paprika, not even any discernible salt. A side of good honey mustard BBQ sauce may have helped, but this wasn’t even good mustard. It was meant only to obscure the blandness of the poultry.
The saving grace was the jam — strawberry basil — which tasted good despite a lackluster, dry biscuit. The jam I would eat again. Except next time I’ll take a chance on another restaurant.
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