The San Marino Trifecta

FOOD REVIEW

San Marino Courtyard (Photo – Swirlz)

On Huntington Dr. in San Marino just off San Marino Ave. are three delicious places to eat, right in a row. The shared patio has a lovely view of the mountains.

By Julia McWilliams

San Marino Sea Food is a great place to get fresh seafood. Even though there are multiple choices on the menu, such as clam chowder, sandwiches, seafood tacos, and quesadillas, I often get the fish and chips because it is so delicious. Unless you have a huge appetite, I suggest getting one piece of batter fried fish (it’s huge, two pieces are just too much!) with fries and coleslaw. The fish is so fresh with a crunchy coating, and the French fries are second to none. They make the coleslaw in-house and it is creamy and a little sweet. The standard of fish, chips and slaw is always a winner.

On Tuesday, they have Taco Tuesday with a variety of fish tacos. Snapper, shrimp, calamari, halibut, sea bass, and ahi. All tacos are served with guacamole, diced tomatoes and cabbage slaw. 

If someone in your party isn’t in the mood for seafood, and you are sitting outside on the patio, you can still order seafood from San Marino Sea Food and they can order from the menu of New Moon Restaurant, billed as Contemporary Chinese Cuisine.

New Moon has been a long-time favorite of mine, with a wide-ranging menu listed as homestyle, traditional Asian flavors re-imagined.  There is always something I like to try. Their food is extremely fresh with large servings. 

The appetizers are so large and tasty, I have sometimes made a meal of them. Particularly the shrimp Rangoon, New York style jumbo egg rolls, and chicken pot stickers.

The variety and number of main dishes can be daunting, but rest assured you can’t go wrong with any of the entrees, and, as with most Asian dishes, they are meant to be shared. Some of my personal favorites are braised string beans, noodles, Shanghai Style Chow Mein and Chow Fun, which is made with rice noodles, and both made with vegetables. 

I’m sure people will ask why I choose a restaurant chain when the San Gabriel Valley is filled with authentic Asian restaurants. At New Moon I always know what I am getting and know what I’m eating. No surprises. And I really like the patio in the evening. 

When you are finished with your meal and it’s time for some dessert to cleanse your palate, look no further than two doors down to Swirlz Soft Serve Parlor. They serve custard, ice cream, and frozen yogurt, with both regular and vegan selections. Eight flavors offered change regularly. The last time I was there, I tried raspberry ice cream, chocolate gelato, coffee and pumpkin cheesecake frozen yogurt. A little of each. Why not? Then on to toppings. There are fresh fruit toppings and about 40 different dry toppings, including crushed crackers, cookies, cereal, candy and nuts. 

Remember when you could only get Dole Whip ice cream at Disneyland? Not anymore! Dole released the recipe a few years ago, and it is available at Swirlz. If the soft serve is not available, it will always be in the freezer section. It is the real deal, delicious, and no standing in line!

Wondering where to take your family for dinner outside on a lovely night? Look no further than the San Marino Trifecta of San Marino Seafood, Full Moon Asian Restaurant and Swirlz Soft Serve Parlor. 

Check the websites for days and times of operation.