Hollins House

Mari and I had chosen Hollins House before for special dinner occasions so we were interested when the paper said they were now open for breakfast and lunch as well. Hollins House was the home of Marion Hollins, famous golfer and feminist. It sits above semi-private Pasatiempo, a historic Top 100 golf course designed in 1929 by Alister MacKenzie who also designed Augusta National where the Masters is played. I'm not a golfer so I'm not wowed by the history. But you get a sense of the decor; lots of black & white pictures of golf legends in a grand, old but still cozy home.

Hollins House was doing breakfast and lunch because the MacKenzie Bar & Grill in the Clubhouse next door was being remodeled. My dear old mother gave us a great travel tip years ago: for a great value have breakfast or lunch at a golf course. You get good food and service because you are indistinguishable from the golfers who just laid down $100's to play a round. You always get a great view of the manicured greens and fairways and at Hollins House you also get a great panoramic view of the Monterrey Bay!

It was a beautiful early Spring day when we sat down on wrought iron garden furniture on the stone patio outside. We didn't have a camera but the view was better than this one above from their website. There was no fog and we could make out details on the Santa Cruz wharf.

Enough of the ambiance. Mari ordered and actually finished the MacKenzie Black Angus Burger (8oz Patty with choice of Swiss, Pepper Jack or Cheddar Cheese) including the fries. I thought my Philly Cheese Steak (Shaved Creek Stone Farms Sirloin, Muenster Cheese Spread, Caramelized Onions & Pasilla Peppers on Cuban Roll) was great, but not authentic. Not nearly enough fat for a truly 'Philly' sandwich. But great nonetheless.

Service was very attentive, but not overbearing or rushed at all. We asked about the move to breakfast and lunch and learned that (by now) MacKenzie's is back in business and Hollins House will still do lunch going forward. That's good news.