Chapter Three
August 19, 2008
Then on south to Morro Bay and by the time we get there late in the afternoon the fog is rolling back in. Morro Rock, the large boulder in the Harbor is half covered in fog. It doesn’t look like our chances of seeing a pretty sunset here today are very good.
We checked into our motel, the Best Western Tradewinds, just one block up off the Embarcadero.
Dinner was at a very old local restaurant, Tognazzini’s Dockside Restaurant. We had eaten here for lunch several years ago but this was our first dinner. Swordfish looked good to both me and my wife, but we eat small portions usually. The waitress suggested that one dinner would be sufficient. But when we were finished and she asked if we’d like desert we listened to the special offerings for the evening.
She went through a few and my wife took her up on the fresh baked Bread Pudding. Then she mentioned the Banana Cinnamon Chimichanga, and that hooked me. Oh my, was that a decedent finish to our meal. Just what we needed to make our escape more enjoyable.
Our room for two nights
With a flat screen TV and a refr
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Looking right at Morro Rock and the bay.
Located only two short blocks from the Embarcadero in Morro Bay, this three star rated motel by AAA has all of the things you need. Only twenty-four guest rooms in this two story facility, but all of them were renovated in 2002 and 2003. Today they have in room movies, HBO on cable satellite TV, am/fm alarm clock, coffee/tea maker, refrigerator, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, and hi-speed internet access. My only less than thumbs up comes with the morning breakfast. Yes, they do offer a slightly expanded continental breakfast, with cold cereal, sweet rolls, hard boiled eggs, toast, juices and coffee. But they have only two small tables where you can eat, and no trays available so you can take it back to your own room to eat.
The spa, located on the second f
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The breakfast area. Very small
Exterior
Exterior
Our room
Our room
Exterior with Morro Rock
Seafood at its best
I have found that when I go to the coast to get away from the summer heat of the valley that there are great lunch places to eat, and great dinner places to eat. This is one that can fit into either category. And as the name says, it is right on the docks in Morro Bay and almost in the shadow of Morro Rock. We visited this time for dinner. The menu, naturally, is loaded with seafood and we checked with the waitress to see what size portions they serve. With her help we decided to share a single swordfish in a garlic butter sauce meal. It was served with a very unusual and distinctive scalloped potato, and vegetables. I felt they over did the sauce. The nice piece of grilled swordfish was swimming in a small shallow bowl with about a half inch of hot garlic butter. I removed the fish from the bowl and both my wife and I ate what was a great meal, without most of the sauce. And the price was quite affordable.
Cinnamon Banana Chimichanga @ Dockside
After a nice meal on vacation at the coast our waitress asked if we’d care to try a special desert they had to offer. Neither my wife nor I usually go for desert because we are already overweight and eat the large meals we once did. But when she mentioned their “Cinnamon Banana Chimichanga” it peaked my interest. At this point I do whole heartedly wish I had taken a picture of this decadent platter of calories. They had taken several banana pieces and cinnamon sauce and wrapped them in Filo dough. Then the whole thing was deep fried. Served on a desert platter covered with whipped cream, then the chimichanga is laid on top and drizzled with chocolate syrup. Bigger than expected, but too good to leave even one bite left.
