Update: Nelson's, Terrenea Resort

I've reviewed Nelson's in the past, when the restaurant was just starting to attract cusomers.  Today, forget all about trying to eat there on a weekend.  Three times we have set off and three times we were turned away -- the parking lots could hold no more cars.  Both sides of the street approaching the resort were filled with cars parked bumper to bumper.  And this is not a small resort.  The golf cart driver told me there are 600 rooms. 

Yesterday, a Friday, we had much better luck. 

The first thing I noticed was that the menu has been changed a bit.  Some old favorites are still there (the pulled pork bbq sandwich with cole slaw and onion strings) but there are several worthwhile additions.  We started with chunky avocado dip and house-fried chips with our drinks.  It's not guacamole-flavored as one might expect.  Instead the predominating flavor is lime with a small spark of cilantro and it's good!  ($12)

Charlie and Rosalind had the old favorite - crab sliders with Cajun remoulade, ($16) but I didn't see the shrimp tacos that I liked in the past.  Richie branched out Big Time and ordered a Mediterranean Chicken Wrap, composed of roasted chicken, soft feta, wild arugula, kalamata olives, shaved red onion, tomato, cucumbers and piquillo peppers on a wholewheat tortilla with champagne vinaigrette.  $17  It was, to say the least, a hearty sandwich.  Half of it came home with us and Himself is not a dainty eater, if you get my drift.  Lumberjack comes to mind...

I couldn't resist - three Kobe mini-hot dogs with kimchi on one, creole mustard on the second and sauteed peppers and onions on the third.  The snobbery of kobe hot dogs?  Kimchi? which I love?  Irresistable!  Each came on its own little bun.  They were so adorable looking!  $12.  I have read critiques by hot dog lovers of "the perfect dog" and they always include the word "pop" referring to biting into the skin of the hotdog.  These had plenty of "pop" but they weren't excessively chewy after the initial bite.   I couldn't finish the dish so the lat little doggy came home, too. 

Nelson's now serves "Mason Jar Desserts" wherein the dessert comes in a half-pint Mason jar.  Red velvet cake, blueberry cheesecake, salted caramel chocolate cake, all $6, and an ice cream sandwich, $7.

Clearly a week day is the time to visit Nelson's unless you're a guest at the hotel.  I looked up their rates and the least expensive rooms were $245/night.   And management advertises that as 30% off!