If you are digging the Mad Men style – the glamour, panache, and confident-cool, you can find yourself all dressed up with no place to go.  To be sure, finding the right outfit can be a far cry easier from finding a place with enough style to meet you more than half-way.  For those in San Diego this isn’t such a dilemma. 

Understated cool at The Wellington

When the mood strikes, look no further than The Wellington in Mission Hills.  You will be met by a stellar menu that mixes classic dishes, such as the signature Beef Wellington, as well as flavors to satisfy the modern palate and an interior ambiance of sophisticated cool.
What is not to love about the menu?  With enough martinis on the list to put Don Draper under the table you may find yourself struggling to decide. Two tips: Don’t limit yourself to one and don’t ignore the Cosmo.  Yes, generally speaking, this cocktail has been put on so many menus she is now the equivalent the easy girl in a small town.  But the balance of flavors in the Wellington Uptown Cosmo are outstanding.  Give the girl a second chance and order a Cosmo when you arrive. 

Strawberry Ice martini - hold the ice

In contrast to the cocktail and wine list, the menu is brief – food choices are perfectly edited.  That is an art.  When offering customers a limited selection, a restaurant must be confident that everything is stellar.  By that standard, the Wellington has a right to swagger.  The selection of steaks is complimented with a list of amazing sauces.  (A stand-out is the Madeira-mushroom sauce  – reason alone to have a crush on Executive Chef Brian Johnston).  The signature dish, Beef Wellington is perfect. 

Beef Wellington - how fillet dresses up

The fillet is perfectly cooked and the pastry crust is tender and flaky.  And even if you order a full entrée, don’t miss the mac-n- cheese.  So often mac-n-cheese is a disappointing mass of bland heavy cream and starch flavors.  The Wellington mac-n-cheese is indulgent, flavorful, with tangy and savory flavors from the cheese and a rich finish.   If I was granted a menu-wish, it would be the addition of a cheese plate to The Wellington.   I can provide no other reason than the fact that I love cheese.  Perhaps one day, my wish will come true.  The Venissimo Cheese delivery truck from across the street could make a wrong turn one day, after all.  (I am an optimist).

The décor and ambiance at The Wellington?  They seal the deal.  Deep, tall, private booths and cozy tables occupy this exclusive restaurant. Look up and you will see that a quantity of chandeliers are closely clustered and hanging at various lengths from the tall, black ceiling. 

When gathered like a herd, chandeliers have edge

With the ceiling done in black, it creates a visual infinity from which the chandeliers seem magically suspended.   Dinner and cocktails at The Wellington is reminiscent of a time when the fun vices were celebrated. 
Keep in mind, that while the cocktail list is extensive, the tables are very limited.  Make sure you call in reservations – or that you know someone – so you are sure to find yourself struggling over which martini to order.  But, if disaster strikes and you need to activate a Plan B, The Wellington will prepare orders for pick up.  So you can get your Beef Wellington to go.  How’s that for take-out with style?

Did you just break the bank on a slim cut suit or a great pair of shoes?  Don’t worry.  Happy Hour is every day, from 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. On Sundays you can get a 3-course meal that includes an entrée of Beef Wellington for $35.