Erin Jackson
Everybody needs at least a few “go-to” places. They’re the restaurants you turn to when you’re craving something specific, or are in an area of town where you’ve never found another place that more consistently satisfies. In Coronado, for me, that place is Leroy’s Kitchen + Lounge.
The brunch? Simply stellar. The burger? Superb. The sandwiches? They too, excel. Take these two for example: the pork bahn mi ($11) and the truffle grilled cheese ($11).
Erin Jackson
The bahn mi is best thought of as “bahn mi for beginners”. There’s no pâté or Vietnamese mayo, just juicy grilled pork topped with julienned slices of carrots, cucumbers, and daikon on a baguette-style roll. It’s got a nice, crunchy crust and a chewy interior. The sandwich comes with a side of cucumber and tomato salad, with a few thin slices of pickled onion mixed in for contrast.
By comparison, the truffle grilled cheese is much more grown up. Truffle oil is brushed on the bread before it’s grilled, and the cheese is Holey Cow, a whole milk, semi-soft cow’s milk cheese that has the characteristics of a Swiss cheese, but tastes more like gruyère. Beneath the smooth, creamy dairy, there’s spinach and enoki mushrooms. Even with its more refined sensibilities, feel very free to dunk it in the tomato bisque that’s served on the side. The sandwich, cut into 2-inch strips, practically begs for it.
Leroy’s Kitchen + Lounge is located at 1015 Orange Ave in Coronado (map). Lunch is served 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., daily.