No matter which meal you prefer, Severino’s prepares them all with flair and fresh ingredients
Many hotels lack kitchens while others offer the most basic sustenance. Neither is the case at the Seacliff Inn, where Severino’s fuels patrons throughout the day with ambitious wake-ups like Eggs Benedict, a casual lounge menu and filling dinner entrĂ©es of Salmon Dijon and rack of lamb.
Severino’s serves breakfast daily including omelets, Huevos Rancheros, and lox and bagels. On weekends breakfast is followed by brunch. A nice list of salads ($10.99 to $12.99) includes seared Ahi with roasted red pepper vinaigrette.
Sandwiches ($8.99 to $12.99) range from Barbecue tri-tip to Hawaiian burgers, and for entrées (8.99 to $10.99) grilled salmon joins Chicken Teriyaki.
I sampled my favorite fruit in a Raspberry Daiquiri ($7). Perfectly blended with ice crystals as light as snow, it was very sweet with a little raspberry tartness, complete with seeds and the crisp zing of rum.
Four triangular halves of thick, fluffy bread were perfectly griddled
as Strawberry Frangelico French Toast ($8.99). As strawberries are out of season, it was topped with syrupy preserves of whole berries. A separate large dish of whipped cream
added decadence.
During a recent luncheon I ordered Soup of the Day ($2 with entrée), which I hereby petition to be made daily. This Roasted Red Pepper Bisque was velvety smooth packing a wonderfully spicy wallop.
For the Blackened Chicken Quesadilla ($9.99) a huge flour tortilla was folded in half and quartered, and stuffed with cheese, tomato, green onion and minced chicken. It was served with a large side of mashed avocado. Seasoning on the chicken was spicy and flavorful, but of inadequate amount to really jump out from behind the other ingredients.
Severino’s offers some weeknight dinner specials. On BBQ Wednesdays ($14.99) BBQ Chicken, Chipotle Skirt Steak, or St. Louis BBQ Ribs are served with soup or salad and your choice of two sides. Draft beers are just $3.
Surf and Turf Thursdays ($15.99) feature New York Steak with a West Coast-style crab cake, vegetables, baked potato and soup or salad.
The restaurant and large lounge look out onto a lushly landscaped patio area overlooking a koi pond. It’s a soothing spot to enjoy cocktails and appetizers while basking in the colorful sunset. Live music is typically heard on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Check out the GT Live Music calendar for show times.
Severino’s Bar and Grill, 7500 Old Dominion Ct., Aptos, 688-8987. Full bar. Serving breakfast weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., weekends from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., brunch weekends 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., lunch weekdays 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dinner nightly from 5 p.m. Visit seacliffinn.com
★★★
Mountain Winery is hosting a decadent warm-up to Valentines Day with chocolate and wine pairing on the weekend of February 12 and 13 from noon to 5 p.m. $30 on-line prepaid reservations will secure five pairings, from empanadas with spicy chocolate sauce and zinfandel to chocolate-dipped peppered bacon with reserve Syrah.
Mountain Winery, 14831 Pierce Road, Saratoga, 408-741-2822. Visit mountainwinery.com//wine
