I have been to the Hotel Del Coronado many times, yet I have yet to stay there.  It is a luxury hotel right on the water.  In the 1990s, my mother and sister were staying there while I was visiting friends in the city.  I have vivid memories of spending the day with them on the beach.  I had just lost my job and was quite miserable.   We went into the ocean, rode bikes around the island, drank cocktails by the pool.  The day had a magical effect on me, and I often look at the photos from the day to take some of that feeling in.

Also, if you haven’t been and are trying to picture the hotel, it’s a historic landmark and the film, “Some Like it Hot” was shot there in the 1950s.

But this was the first time I went for lunch at their restaurant facing the ocean front, Sheerwater.  We sat on the terrace, enjoying the beautiful view and we both ordered salads.  My friend’s children are ages 6 and 8, and I was curious what kind of meal they were going to get for the grand price of $10.

The menu for kids is called “Under the Sea” and they start out the meal with  a serving of Sheerwater Trail Mix: goldfish, pretzels, dried fruit and cheerios.  We actually weren’t served this appetizer, but for older kids, it really isn’t necessary.   For the meal, the choices include pizza, a cheddar cheese burger, beef hot dog, oodles of noodles, mac & cheese, a rice bowl, fish & chips, grilled ham & cheese, pb&J and crispy chicken fingers.  They all come with a side of french fries or baby carrots and a drink.  The servings are really, really plentiful.   Dessert includes a banana split, vanilla bean cheesecake or a a chocolate brownie.  By the time dessert came, the kids were pretty full.

After lunch, we took a walk around the hotel and by the water and we took pictures of my friend’s children.  It was a spectacular afternoon, and I highly recommend it.

Disclosure: I was not compensated to write this review and all opinions are my own.