Sea180 Coastal Tavern

We've been dining at Cohn restaurants for years now (happy birthday babe!) and finally made it out to Sea180° Coastal Tavern. There's one main reason for the tardiness... it's a 40+ minute drive for us to Imperial Beach! Still, the allure of Cohn Anniversary week had us going the distance. A two-course meal was the price of the year which meant $20.17! Street parking was easy peasy in January too!

The restaurant is part of the Pier South Resort. Their patio was perfect for people watching along Imperial Beach shore though there was a bit of chill in the air.

I like the reflection of the waters and umbrella from this entrance. We cozied up on a patio table to browse the anniversary menu. First the appetizers...

Charred Butternut Squash Arancini - crispy risotto balls smothered in chorizo & white cheddar fondue

The risotto was soft and easy to chew, enclosed by a thin but no longer crunchy fried shell. The endless sauce reminded me of Velveeta but a tad bit saltier with more spice. This arancini just couldn't compare to my first (and amazing) experience at Lorna's Italian Kitchen with my bookclub girls. I'm sure I'll make my way back with Dennis to confirm.

Arugula & Baby Beets Salad - pecorino cheese, pistachios, tangerines, coriander vinaigrette

The total opposite of fried carbs would be this healthy salad. It was spread out on a rather large dish and dressed with an oil-based vinaigrette. Pushing aside the greens led to the hidden bed of beets which had slightly firm flesh and a very beety taste (less is better for me). What I liked best happened to be the tangerines giving it a splash of citrus sweet.

Fish & Chips - fresh local fish beer battered and fried, baja slaw, house tartar, malt vinegar, garlic herb fries

One of the most popular items on their menu was the fish and chips. We deemed this "nice breading" because it was not overbattered or too crunchy and the fish portion was plentiful. The accompanying tartar sauce was a bit more pickled than normal though. The bucket of fries didn't carry that much flavor but did remind Dennis of garlic chips. Last was the mild asian chili glaze flavored slaw but we mostly picked at it.

Mary's Farm Chicken - applewood slow smoked half chicken, fresh herb parisian gnocchi, wilted spinach, wild mushroom gravy

The rotisserie style chicken stayed moist and was quite filling overall! The heavier mushroom gravy was a bit overwhelming for me but Dennis liked the accompaniment. It's hidden from this angle but there's little doughy bits of gnocchi under there too! We were so stuffed at this point and got a box for the leftovers! Truth be told, you never need to order appetizers at Cohn restaurants!

We took pictures of the interior on our way out but seriously, when you're at a beach resort, everyone is drawn toward seating by the water and view! They do have this huge glass entrance which is pretty cool though.

Minimum wage crept up another dollar in 2017 and this was our first encounter with a surcharge (2%)! Since then, I've only seen the surcharge at one other restaurant plus other Cohn restaurants. At least we know the portions are always plentiful but we'll stick to the closer ones after this meal. Come for the view!