ED.'S NOTE: The following was recounted to the author by Ken Morgan of London.
The candles were melting in their holders recently and we decided to get out of the city and make a day trip to escape the heat.
Grand Bend seemed like a good idea, with lots of beach and cool breezes and located not too far away. We're a middle income family and with the economic conditions, we're not taking any extended holidays this year or probably next, so we're careful how we spend our money.
After enjoying the afternoon in sun, sand and surf, we decided to splurge for dinner, asking several locals where the best place to dine was. We were unanimously directed to a restaurant named the Coral Reef Inn. Just slightly off the beaten path at 236 Ontario St. but on Highway 21 south, it was easy to find.
The first thing we noticed when we arrived was a large banner out front proclaiming a "Dine & stay package for $49.95 per couple." As you can guess we were surprised at the price and wondered what the catch was. The outside was not overly impressive but we decided to go in anyway.
Inside it was a different story. It was romantic, cozy and comfortable and not something you'd expect to find in Grand Bend but in Montreal or Quebec City. Getting over our trepidations, we decided to ask the hostess, who greeted us at the door, about the dine & stay package for $49.95. After all, we are on a budget and most times, dinner alone costs more. Our hostess (who we later learned was Julie and an owner), was not only polite but downright friendly; like we were long-lost friends and not just tourists.
Julie explained the dine and stay package was a motel room for two for the night and a dinner each; or $45.95 and a free breakfast and would we like to see a room. The rooms are connected directly to the restaurant so we had the opportunity of touring through the lounge. It was great, with wingback chairs, love seats, a dance floor and a piano. As we walked through, Julie explained Teresa would be singing in the lounge that evening and playing dance music.
The rooms Julie showed us were not Holiday Inn but on the other hand they were clean, comfortable and cool, with color TV. Julie explained they have been modernizing the rooms for the last several years and expected to be finished in another year or so. She also told us about the dinner selections for that evening: an eight-ounce New York steak with baked potato, orange grilled chicken breast on rice pilaf or chicken Neptune, chicken breast stuffed with lobster and scallops. With the combination of the warm hospitality, the ambience of the dining room and the great price, we decided to stay.
We arrived for our dining reservations at 7:30 p.m. and were seated in the intimate fireplace dining room that seats about 20. It is decorated in dusty rose and hinter greens and has cloth-covered highback chairs, complete with soft piano music and candlelight. Talk about romantic and relaxing. It is definitely a "10."
Julie came over and greeted us personally and explained the specials and gave us a wine list, which was very comprehensive and reasonably-priced. We decided on Julie's recommendation to have a bottle of Zinfandel and a Caesar salad to share. We said "No anchovies please" and Julie said "No problem" because she has pull with the chef. Her husband is the chef de cuisine.
Hot oven-baked rolls arrived out of nowhere, the wine followed seconds later and a pert young lady arrived with our Caesar salad, which was certainly big enough for two to share. There was no commercial dressing there and it was the best Caesar salad either one of us has had.
After the salad there was a short interval and Julie returned to chat about weekend packages, including accommodation for Friday and Saturday night, a "mixer" in the lounge Friday night, with free appetizer and a beverage, breakfast Saturday morning, a choice of golf, horseback riding, lake cruise (all weather permitting) or the Sunday brunch; dinner for two Saturday evening for $149.95. As Julie explained it was to attract people like ourselves to an inexpensive breakaway and to bring people to Grand Bend in September and October. (Available after Labor Day and until mid October).
The other things Julie told us about included dinner theatre, starting mid-October and until the end of November. She was very excited about it and gave us a typed synopsis. The first play to be performed is called Every Tuesday Night and is an original play by Gaylyn Britton. It will be performed on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The play is a modern comedy and dinner and the play will cost under $30 per person. As we both like theatre and the occasional drive to Toronto where it's $60 to $90 per person, we decided to put our name on Julie's mailing list so we could order tickets when they become available.
Just as Julie finished, our dinners arrived and the New York steak that was supposed to be eight ounces had to be at least 10 ounces and was charbroiled to medium rare perfection. We had the most incredible baked potato I've ever eaten and the orange grilled chicken was superb. When Julie returned a short time later to see how our dinners were, the only thing we could say was "Do you know how great this food is?"
After dinner we relaxed in the lounge with a Coral Reef special coffee and listened to Teresa's delightful voice and her renditions of favorite show tunes and ballads. It was just a wonderful and relaxing evening.
We decided to stay an extra few days, and each dinner was better than the previous. Sunday brunch was great, with no standing in line and it had a great variety and personal service. Talk about the guest who came to dinner. We just didn't want to leave.
But with Monday just around the corner we went back relaxed and content. Yes Victoria, there really is a Sanity Clause. It's called the Coral Reef Inn and it's in Grand Bend. For dining reservations and more information, call the Inn at 519-238-2081.
P.S. Thanks Julie, Au revoir Coral Reef and definitely bon appetite. We'll be back.