"The Salt Creek Grille is a lovely restaurant, tucked away on the west side of the Monarch Bay Plaza but still easy to find. The décor has an elegant craftsman style to it with both indoor and outdoor seating. My wife and I went on a Saturday a little after 4:00 p.m. We were seated right away even though we did not have a reservation. Our server was very friendly and helpful since we haven?t been to this place many times. We started with a Huckleberry Lemonade which was very refreshing and not too strong. Next, we ordered the Bacon Wrapped Shrimp, and the prawns were very large with the bacon having some chew to it. The honey chipotle sauce that came with it added a bit of tangy sweetness to the salty bacon and the bit of spicy horseradish that was stuffed into the shrimp. We also had the Caesar Over Mesquite, which is a wedge of grilled romaine with asiago. The sweet, smoky taste of the mesquite carries through on every bite and it is a unique dish I highly recommend. For the main course we had the Coffee-Encrusted NY cooked medium rare that came with seasonal vegetables and mashed potatoes. The steak was just delicious. The coffee crust added an extra taste of bitter, combined with slightly creamy, sourness of blue cheese. The seasonal vegetables were not overcooked but didn?t really add much to the plate. The only weak player on the plate was the mashed potatoes, which were dense and a little dry, with no mentionable flavor on its own. Next time, I may need to ask for a little gravy on the side. Last item was desert, which we had the Blueberry Cheesecake with a reduced seasonal fruit glaze. It was light for a cheesecake but sweet and enjoyable. Overall, this was a very nice meal and I hope to return soon."
