Brunch Trip: The Gilded Bellini's Brunch at TRUST San Diego
The Gilded Bellini takes brunch in San Diego!!!
Eager to find out which San Diego brunch hotspot should be the next on your list? I recently discovered an AMAZING brunch spot nestled in the heart of the Hillcrest area in San Diego called TRUST. It's known for its urban rustic food and wood fire cookery! You can't miss it on the street - it's the most popular in site with a visibly bustling crowd.
My best friend Shakira was in town visiting from NYC and we wanted to take a trip down to San Diego for a fabulous brunching experience. The tempting menu filled with mouthwatering elevated comfort food and intriguing one of a kind plates had already grabbed our attention before arriving, and we could not wait to brunch!
As a New Jersey and NYC native myself, a huge part of what I look for in a dining (especially a brunch) experience is how welcoming the restaurant is. It's all part of what makes a great dining experience! We walked right in and were greeted with a smile. I loved that immediately that TRUST was simply: good vibes!!!
Upon entering the space, I was amazed by the decor. If you're wondering, this is definitely a place I'd recommend for many photo ops! The atmosphere was bright, warm and chic and colorful all in one. Every table was filled (a great clue if you've picked a great spot)!
I was stunned by the beautiful space. A poplar planked backdrop with custom designed metal bar shelving and gold metal barstools made for an inviting feel accented by a Pental Quartz communal bar. American White Oak dining tables and chairs coupled with specifically designed graphics wrapping the walls reflected the clean lines and angular curves associated with midcentury modern design.
We sat down and immediately checked out the drink menu! We were in a total champagne mood so we ordered the Pomegranate Mimosa and the Passionfruit Mimosa. Our server Nate, was so energetic and kind - he talked us through the entire menu and schooled us on the must haves at TRUST!
To be honest, it was hard to narrow down what we wanted because everything sounded that good. Nate told us it was totally necessary to order the Ultimate Sticky Bun. We actually ordered the last one! FYI: they are limited per day, so get there early!
The owner, Steve Schwob came over to deliver this masterpiece.
When I tell you we were SPEECHLESS as to how good this was. My mouth is watering just writing about it! It was as fluffy as a cloud and was full of scrumptious sweet flavor. It was topped with ice cream and shaved almonds. Perhaps heavenly is a better word. This got an A+++++ in my personal brunching bible!!!
Lucky for us, this was just the beginning... and what a way to kick off brunch! We still had plenty of room for the main affair.
For my main dish, I got the Smoked Salmon Toast which consisted of herb goat cheese (this could be taken out off need be, like I did because I'm dairy-free), arugula, red onions, boiled egg, fried capers (I had never had capers before that were fried. Beyondddd addictive) and fresh fruit.
I'm always on the hunt for a good salmon dish too because if a restaurant does it right, it's great. If a restaurant does it wrong, it's usually worth sending back. But this was SUPER fresh and just delightful with every bite. I highly recommend this dish. It's filling and is packed with tons of protein. The toast was a perfect pairing with it, too.
Shakira went with the Chilaquiles Rojos, which consisted of 2 eggs, crema, cotija, pinto beans, guacamole, pickled onions and cilantro. What really stood out to us about this dish was that the tortilla chips mixed in were not soggy at all! They still had a warm crunch. This was absolutely delicious. Not to mention, the presentation was beautiful. Super colorful and you could tell so much heart went into making the dish.
Also, can we just talk about this #yolkporn?!?!?
Of course, we had to share a few more plates! The Bananas Foster French Toast was simply to die for!!!
It was perfectly carmelized and was stunningly dusted with powdered sugar. It was topped with almonds, foster sauce, and cream cheese chantilly. The entire dish was just overflowing with sweet perfection. The toast was doughy and soft and beyond satisfying. This is definitely a dish for a true sweet tooth. You definitely will not be disappointed!
We had to throw a little more savory into the mix! We ordered the Mornay Fries, with onion aioli and a chicken egg. Now this is the definition of comfort food!! We literally demolished this dish. The onion aioli is what really made this so special and even more divine with every bite.
Another #yolkporn dish. I mean... can you just look at this?!
We of course couldn't help ourselves but take tons of photos with the food...
Before we left, we headed to the bar area and grabbed a few gilded seats. I wanted to try one cocktail that I had been eyeing on the menu - the Trust #2: jalapeño tequila, grapefruit, agave, and firewater bitters. Garnished with a cucumber. OKAY. If there was any cocktail that I could label as "so me" it is THIS ONE!!!
I am a total tequila girl. And I loooove a good tequila concoction with some spice. The firewater bitters were everything! This was so refreshing (and super strong). If you are a tequila lover, you MUST try this drink when you are here! You will not regret it! And apparently it's one of their most popular drinks... I can totally see why!
Needless to say, I completely put my "trust" into TRUST San Diego. Everything from the food, to the drinks to the ambiance, to the decor, to the good vibes was just all around impressive. You could really tell that TRUST is simply a brunch go-to in the neighborhood, but certainly a destination too for those who are visiting. My LA and OC friends - this spot is totally worth the drive!
One other thing that I'd like to note about the restaurant is that I really appreciated that the owner, Steve was so involved with all the happenings going on during that busy Saturday. He was assisting the servers, checking on tables and making sure all the guests were happy. That always stands out to me and shows how much passion, dedication goes into a restaurant. More importantly, it is so evident how much community holds precedence at TRUST. That simple fact just makes you want to keep coming back for more!
I cannot wait til my next visit to TRUST. This spot is a total gem!!! Let me know what you order if you plan to brunch here. Until then, I'll just be daydreaming about that famous Ultimate Sticky Bun.
Photography by: Rebecca Gnasso
