THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Sea & Smoke, an American Brasserie Awards

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Sea & Smoke, an American Brasserie Restaurant Review:

Chef Matt Gordon has a mini restaurant empire in the making with Urban Solace, Solace & the Moonlight Lounge, and now Sea & Smoke, an American Brasserie. Located in the Flower Hill Promenade amongst a Whole Foods Market and upscale boutiques, the restaurant is open all day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, making it a convenient dining option for Del Mar denizens. The main dining room at the entrance is flanked by two sidewalk patios, and the downstairs bar/lounge leads to a lovely courtyard patio. "Blackened" yellowtail crudo with jalapeño ash, jicama and compressed watermelon makes for a refreshing and interesting starter. Also worth considering are the Pacific mussels, which are given a boost by an excellent broth and grilled housemade bread. Chef Gordon sources from local farms and purveyors as much as possible for his dishes, one example being the Cook Pigs Ranch double pork chop roast with honey mustard brine. The wood-fired oven turns out several other meat and seafood offerings, including the bacon-almond dusted scallops with a vanilla sauce that's a bit overpowering. An effort is made to make the vegetarian plates hearty, but we weren't won over by the achiote marinated cauliflower with black bean purée, roasted avocado, cotija and coriander leaf. The cherry clafoutis is very good, but if you're looking for something different in the dessert department go for the "Sea & Smoke," composed of tobacco smoked goat cheese crémeux, Armagnac citrus soup, black pepper whipped cream and candied orange peel. As for the wine list, it's sort of a hodge podge that sometimes has local wineries. The dozen draught beers continue the local theme while cocktails include the addictive Ode to Oaxaca made with organic mezcal, Amaro, citrus and ginger syrup. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, and the service is efficient.