Shoal's Restaurant

Between Ventura and Santa Barbara on the Pacific Coast Highway lies
Mussel Shoal's. It's just a blink of a town as far as I could tell. It's here,
within the understated Cliffhouse Inn that Shoal's Restaurant resides.
It's ambiance is unique, and not necessarily about luxury. The interior of
the restaurant is modest with closely arranged tables maximizing every
space of the two tiny rooms, while outside, plastic patio furniture is
transformed by linens and candlelight, with the unobtrusive sea to
serenade diners. Day or night, and weather permitting, dining outdoors
is most romantic. Our evening started with a wonderful appetizer of
Warm Goat Cheese & Roasted Pears. The goat cheese was warm,
wrapped in phyllo and set on a bed of baby greens tossed in a light
Pepper Walnut Vinaigrette with roasted pear slices. The Seared Ahi
appetizer was unnoticeably crusted with herbs, but nevertheless
enjoyable, served with a Sesame-Ginger Sauce. A warm Mussel Cream
Sauce topped the Steamed Seafood & Angel Hair and was most delicious.
This came with quite an array of seafood which included, shrimps,
prawns, clams, mussels and scallops. The 2000 Zaca Mesa Syrah which
we chose to accompany our meal was a smooth bottle of red with light
notes of sour cherry and paired nicely with their Grilled Filet of Beef with
Garlic Mashed Potatoes and a Tarragon Cabernet Sauce. At lunch the
next day, Tropical Iced Tea couldn't be better. We ordered the citrus and
garlic marinated Grilled Chicken Sandwich which came highly
recommended. The wonderfully moist chicken breast, played a bigger
part than usual in this excellent sandwich, placed on a crusty wheat
baguette with lettuce, tomato and melted jack cheese with a necessary
mound of Pineapple Mango Salsa on the side. Even the French Fries were
unusually good, thick, but tender and far too easy to eat a bunch.
There's no denying, Shoal's Restaurant is sure to provide a more than
satisfactory meal, but it's serene surroundings is quite capable of slowing
down the pace of life, if only for a bit.

Prices : $8.95 for Chicken Sandwich, Goat Cheese $8.75, Angel Hair
$19.50, Filet $21.75

Located at 6602 W. Pacific Coast Highway in Mussel Shoals.

Telephone (805) 652-1381

Website: www.cliffhouseinn.com/dinner.htm