I dig atmosphere. Really. Sometimes more than the food and drinks at a restaurant. But, one thing that can bring me down from that high is substandard service. That can really sober me up fast.

I love the atmosphere at The Pearl Hotel in Point Loma. Love it. The restaurant has an indoor/outdoor setting around the pool. During the summer, they show movies on a screen across from the pool on Wednesday nights. The décor is beautiful – modern, light, sleek – and with a mixture of manufactured and natural materials. And, although the hotel is on a busy street, the noise and distraction are blocked out once you are inside.

I have found the service to be friendly and relaxed, but a little rough around the edges. A few rookie moves here and there – certainly not enough to ruin the experience but enough to dampen my atmosphere induced buzz. Things like not bringing back change once the restaurant tab had been paid. Or not being ready for guests to check out of the hotel in the morning, because the manager was not on site yet and was the only person with access to the cash drawer…with an ETA unknown. And, what is perhaps the most shocking example of a gap between expectation and delivery: no espresso. (Is that legal?) What may be a challenge for The Pearl in its sophomore year is that the very together and sleek interior and atmosphere magnify any growing pains of the staff. The atmosphere sets the bar very high – and small things will just stand out. But, in the scheme of things, they are small things and in the spirit of not-sweating-the-small-stuff, I have been back several times and would definitely recommend it to others.

And, on the up side, these small-things-which-I-am-not-sweating-about are completely fixable. The distractions I encountered were not bad attitude or anything unfriendly, or poor quality in food and drink, etc. Just rookie moves. And, with swift use of a credit card, an espresso machine can quickly be acquired. Problem solved.

The Pearl restaurant and bar is a great place to start an evening with a cocktail. It has a very chill vibe and plenty of groups of seating that are conducive to conversation. There are poolside chairs with small tables, indoor spaces with shag carpet for rec room style lounging (very Rock Hudson + classic 1950s Playboy), an outdoor cabana for a bigger group, as well as bar seating. Dinner at The Pearl is also fun and relaxing. The menu is well edited, but has enough variety that there is something for everyone. And, as the evening advances – particularly during the summer when the sun goes down and the lights are low – it is a nice chill atmosphere around the pool. Which is either great for winding down or revving up. Additionally, the cocktail menu is fabulous. The classics are always available and The Pearl offers a rotation of specialty drinks created by their bartenders. I have consistently found the staff to be friendly and eager to make the guests happy – which also adds to the great atmosphere. Apart from the small things mentioned above, the service is great. Last summer, The Pearl also served brunch on Sundays, which was a great resource in the hot spot arsenal. The atmosphere was fun and the menu items delicious.

The Pearl is definitely worth adding to your stockpile of hip spots. And, with the weather warming up, it is a great place any night of the week. Anyone you take to The Pearl will appreciate the vibe and the menu – and be certain to check out their movie schedule. It is a unique and fun experience – and is a great reason to get together for dinner with friends, who will appreciate that you shared this gem. And, with any luck, The Pearl will bring brunch back this summer…and add an espresso machine to the kitchen.