Find fresh, delicious food at The Desmond, which is part of Kimpton Alma in the Downtown San Diego Gaslamp District. The Gaslamp is known for its nightlife but has its fair share of other things to do, whether you're with kids, on a romantic trip, or stopping by with friends.

If you're staying in the Kimpton Alma, consider getting dinner at The Desmond, which is located on the mezzanine level. 

Where is The Desmond San Diego?

The address of The Desmond is 1047 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101. They invited me to have dinner, so I went with my family to see what goodies were on the menu. The menu centers around San Diego and California cuisine with options like seafood and pasta. 

Parking in Downtown San Diego

The hotel has valet parking, which is easier than circling the one-way streets of downtown San Diego in search of a spot. But if valet isn't your thing, you can drive further away to seek a place.

Food and Menu

If you enjoy bread, start with the roasted garlic and herb focaccia bread service. The menu seems to rotate through the seasons, so when I checked back about two months later, the items I got weren't on it. They have appetizers, entrees, desserts, and cocktails.

That said, I really enjoyed the fresh, housemade pasta. The ingredients and thoughtful presentations are focal points to ensure an experience unlike anything you'd get at an average restaurant. Each dish is carefully presented. 

It's a terrific spot to celebrate a birthday, retirement, or special occasion dining experience. The prices are above the standard burger joint but not as costly as you'd expect for a fine-dining restaurant. You can get a cocktail and entree for around $75-80, depending on your order. They also have a 3-course and 5-course menu but you can call ahead to inquire about this.

Desserts

The menu will vary, but you can expect incredible deliciously seasonal desserts. Don't leave without getting at least one. For example, they have a Wildflower Honey Coconut Tapioca that's made with mango custard, honey sweet mango, coconut geleé, and a bit of toasted coconut.

When I went, I had the Basque Cheesecake and Gianduia Chocolate Budino. Both were decadent and the perfect way to end the evening. Desserts cost $10-15, which is around the same price as a dessert at a pizza place in North County San Diego. 

Cocktails at The Desmond

The cocktails are well-crafted and balanced with a range of alcohols and flavors, like Stranahan’s Whiskey. This drink is shaken with cardamom tea and lemon.

Ambience 

I went earlier during dinner service and was among the first people there. During dinner, several other patrons filtered through, whether on a date or business trip. It was still quiet and spacious. The bathroom stalls are gender-neutral and in one open-concept bathroom area.

Visit The Desmond San Diego in Southern California if you want a night of high-quality food experience. They are only open for dinner, but it's a lovely spot for a meal, wine, or dessert.

Costco Wholesale has a bit of everything. If you've been interested in trying Costco coconut shrimp, they seem to have at least a couple of options: the Aqua Star Coconut Breaded Butterfly Shrimp, Clean Tail, 16-20 ct, 2.5 lbs, and then the Royal Asia Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Thai Chili Sauce, 2 lbs.

I purchased the Royal Asia Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Thai Chili Sauce from Costco.

How to Cook the Frozen Coconut Shrimp

For best results, bake or air fry them. To bake, place the shrimp in a single layer on a sheet pan and bake at 400 degrees F for about 18 minutes or until golden brown. The directions say to flip them halfway through.

If you want to skip the oven, try the air fryer. To air fry the shrimp, heat them at 400 degrees F for about 8 minutes and flip them halfway through. 

The Taste of the Coconut Shrimp

The coconut is crispy and tasty. As the name of the frozen coconut shrimp would suggest, it has a deep coconut flavor with the texture of shredded coconut. The shrimp have tails which are easy to remove. The shrimp themselves seem small compared to the amount of coconut on them.

When you use the Thai chili sauce, there is quite a lot of sugar. I actually never ended up using this because the coconut shrimp had a lot of flavor on its own.

Nutrition Facts

The nutrition facts say that there are 8 servings, each 4 oz. This includes the Thai chili sauce, but there are no nutrition facts if you choose to skip the sauce.

Each serving is 390 calories and 24 grams of total fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 34 grams of carbs, 11 grams of protein, 2 grams of fiber, and 17 grams of sugar.

Final Thoughts - The coconut shrimp are tasty, but there's more coconut than shrimp

I found this in the frozen fish and seafood area of the store. It was on sale at the time, so I decided to buy it. I like the taste and texture; I just feel that the amount of coconut to shrimp is off. There seems to be a lot of coconut and small pieces of shrimp.

Costco has plenty of good deals, so this is already a good value and a delicious way to mix up how you eat shrimp. The shrimp are ready, so you don't have to clean, devein, or do anything other than pop them in the oven or air fryer.

Overall, I enjoyed the flavor, and it's a good item to have on rotation at home. I wouldn't stock it permanently, but it's nice to have when you want something different. These shrimp are fun to bring to a party or for a family dinner when you don't want to make everything from scratch.

Summer is around the corner, and Dutch Bros has some new drinks on the menu. The Mangonada Rebel returns for another year, while the Churro Freeze and Watermelon Fizz are both fresh additions. Find these available for a limited time at all Dutch Bros locations (all 850+ of them) now until June 30, 2024.

Churro Freeze Blended Caramel Coffee from Dutch Bros

The Churro Freeze uses blended caramel coffee, cinnamon sugar Soft Top, and churro bits for a chilly treat. The churro bits appear to be crunchy pieces of cinnamon sugar, so if you're expecting a dough-based churro, that's not the case. This is for the best since the sugar bits would get soggy in the drink while the cinnamon sugar bits remain crisp.  

The Churro Freeze mixes cinnamon and coffee for a blended but not-too-thick drink. It has the espresso factor if you want a coffee drink, but it's too hot for a warm beverage. It's a cold drink, but the cinnamon aspect almost seems as though it would be suited for fall. 

If you want a little bit of autumn in the summertime the Churro Freeze is a delicious way to get that feeling in a cup. Cinnamon is considered one of the warming spices you often see paired with ginger, cardamom, etc.

The blended Churro Freeze seasonal drink is quite cold, so if you have teeth sensitivities, this is something to consider. I don’t, but it was still very cold on the teeth.

Watermelon Fizz from Dutch Bros

The cold beverage definitely has the tell-tale signs of summer. It almost tastes like a fruit 7-Up or a spin on a Jolly Rancher. It’s very carbonated and sweet but not too cloying. There is a lot of ice, so drink it sooner rather than later because the ice melts and waters down the potency of the Watermelon Fizz.

Mangonada Rebel

The Mangonada Rebel is the Dutch Bros version of the Mexican drink. This rendition has Rebel, which is Dutch Bros' exclusive energy drink as well as and mangonada flavor. It's topped with strawberries and Tajín® (made of mild natural chili peppers, lime, and sea salt).

Dutch Bros Seasonal Drinks Prices

At my local Dutch Bros in the San Diego area, the small Watermelon Fizz and small Churro Freeze seasonal drinks totaled $12.02. Given the state of inflation across all industries, the price is pretty decent. They are standard as far as specialty drinks, like Dutch Bros frozen coffee, go. Whether that’s a price you want to pay or not, it’s up to you. 

Donuts are delicious delights of fried dough. Whether you like them creme-filled or glazed, there are a few places to find donuts in Oceanside. While looking up reviews and photos, you can choose the best donut shop. Do you prefer cakey donuts like an old-fashioned donut, or want something doughy and light? Are you looking for vegan options? There are good donuts, but only you can determine the best donuts since each person has different qualities they look for (whether that's price, atmosphere, flavors, etc).

Selection of donuts at Parlor Doughnuts in Downtown Oceanside, California.

Best Donut Shop in Oceanside - Where to Find Donuts in Oceanside

Parlor Doughnuts - 331 N Cleveland St Oceanside, CA 92054

Doughside Donuts - 417 S. Coast Hwy. Oceanside (coming soon, according to their Instagram)

Tans Donuts - 3375 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92058

Hill Street Donut House in Oceanside, CA.

Hill Street Donut House - 1926 S Coast Hwy Oceanside, CA 92054

K-Donuts - 4750 Oceanside Blvd Oceanside, CA 92056

Sk's Donuts on South Coast Highway.

Oceanside Donut - 3772 Mission Ave Ste 119 Oceanside, CA 92054

Mr. Donuts - 1950 Oceanside Blvd # C, Oceanside, CA 92054

Sam's Donuts - 3504 College Blvd # A, Oceanside, CA 92056

Coffee and Desserts in Oceanside

There are many doughnut shops in Oceanside. Oceanside is part of the North County San Diego area, about 40 miles away from Downtown San Diego. Most of these doughnut shops serve coffee, and some offer espresso drinks. The price will vary by business. 

As with most donut shops, there are fewer options if you arrive in the afternoon. Early morning hours are best for visiting for the freshest doughnuts and desserts. Plus, you'll have the most flavors to choose from. Find the best doughnuts the earlier you go.

Related reading: Oceanside Beaches: Best Beaches in Oceanside, CA. Read here.

Exterior view of Parlor Doughnuts in Oceanside.