Located in the new oceanside boutique lifestyle Mar Monte Hotel, Café Lido offers a relaxed ambience (currently al fresco), wonderful staff, and delicious California-Mediterranean cuisine and cocktails. Executive Chef Nathan Lingle, who previously helmed
The Ritz-Carlton in Philadelphia, the Sagamore Resort and Spa, and the L'Auberge Del Mar Resort, has created an approachable concept that shines!
AMBIENCE (4/5)
In diligently honoring COVID safety protocols, Lido, Italian for "shore", has set up a series of airy, well-spaced tables on the pool deck and around the pool. There's even a delightful fire pit with spacious seating for 4-8 people! The team wears masks and uses an online QR menu.
FOOD (5/5)
Casual dining with superb attention to detail and fresh, elevated ingredients! While I was initially skeptical of hotel dining, Café Lido's breakfast, all-day, dessert, and beverage menus are thoughtful, extremely tasty, and well-executed. The California-Mediterranean plates include a variety of salads and snacks such as warm marinated olives and charred shishito peppers as well as tuna tartare, avocado toast, prosciutto and burrata, summer rigatoni, and burgers/sandwiches. The beverage menu features local Spearhead Coffee, teas, fresh smoothies, artisan beers, refreshing cocktails and frozen drinks, and wine.
Across a couple meals, we ordered:
Date Shake: medjool dates, cinnamon, cashews, banana, coconut milk, and a dash of sea salt - as yummy and filling as it sounds!
Green Machine: featuring baby spinach, kale, apple, orange blossom honey, kiwi, pineapple, chlorophyll, spirulina, wheat grass, and coconut milk, this smoothie packs a great healthy punch.
House Green Salad: shaved rainbow carrots, diced bell peppers, heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh greens in a tangy dressing - Lido's mixed greens might be the nicest house salad I've ever had the pleasure of eating. I'm not a big salad person, but I'd order this salad again and again.
Cali Prime Burger: a tall stack of buttery, meaty goodness! The beef burger came perfectly medium rare as requested and loaded with fresh avocado, divinely sweet grilled onions, white cheddar, tomato, and aioli. Messy and DELICIOUS.
Hot Pressed Chicken Melt: toasted buttery bread sandwiching flavorful grilled chicken, crisped kale (such a nice touch!), manchego, and smoked chili aioli.
Local Stone Fruit Crostata: a perfect way to end a lovely dinner! The warm, flaky goodness and juicy plums of the crostata melted deliciously into the McConnell's vanilla ice cream. We semi-fought over the last few sweet bites!
SERVICE (5/5)
Wow! At every interaction and even when we ambled in 20 minutes before closing, the team was welcoming, prompt, and friendly. I'd recommend Café Lido to anyone and everyone! read more