Coral Room: Strip Mall Chic

The Coral Room may be located in a strip mall in the Highlands, but that does not mean it should be ignored like some run down dry cleaners or VHS video store. From the moment I walked into the Coral Room I liked it. The bar is separated from the dining area, and there are booths as well as tables. The décor is a dark Art Deco with green painted tables, bright abstracts on the walls, and a clientele that appeared to be locals stopping by on the way home from work. The bar itself exclusively filled with women.

We dine early, which is advantageous at the Coral Room because their happy hour is something to go out of your way for. Wines by the glass, regardless of their original price are $5 and all appetizers are two for one. We ordered the coconut-encrusted tiger prawns with peanut sauce and spring rolls with spicy sauce. Both were excellent and when complimented by a nice New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc that would have normally sold for $10, were a scrumptious interlude indeed. Both the appetizers and the wine arrived quickly while our entrée took a while. We ordered scallops with pablano pepper puree and rice. The scallops were nice and light but the rice was a bit blah.

We were so enthused about our meal that we were determined to order dessert. Our waiter, an extremely fit gentlemen told us that the chocolate decadence cake was delicious but way to large. When we quickly ordered it, he flexed his deltoids and looked down his nose at us like we had just supersized our waistlines. We found this bit of snootiness annoying until we saw the cake. It was indeed too large even for two people. It was decadent however, and since we knew we would be out on a trail that weekend, did not worry about the calories that much. I should say that the cake came with some ice cream that was a bit too icy but all and all it was worth waddling home for.

If we lived closer to the Coral Room, we would be eating there frequently. The service was quick and friendly, the food was different and delicious, and the happy hour was a great bargain. So, the next time you are in the Highlands, be sure to stop in. You won’t regret it.