The Grand Del Mar Resort, The Spa at The Grand Del Mar Awarded Four-Star Status
Continuing to accrue unprecedented acclaim, Addison -- the lavishly appointed restaurant at the luxurious Grand Del Mar resort -- has earned the most prestigious award of them all: a Five-Star rating from the venerable Mobil Travel Guide, a publication that has defined the industry's highest standard of excellence for more than fifty years.
Awarded on the heels of its designation as a Five Diamond restaurant from the Automobile Association of America (AAA), this latest award firmly places Addison in the top echelon of the country's fine dining establishments, reaffirming its rapidly growing reputation as a culinary powerhouse.
Open for just over two years, Addison was one of only four new restaurants added to the Mobil Five-Star Restaurant List for 2009, bringing the total number of Five-Star restaurants in the United States and Canada to twenty. Other restaurants new to the list this year include Kai Restaurant (Chandler, AZ), Lautrec (Farmington, PA) and Studio (Laguna Beach). Addison, which has earned high praise from critics for its beautifully conceived contemporary French cuisine, elegant presentation, impeccable service and distinctive wine list, is the only restaurant in Southern California to earn both AAA Five Diamond and Mobil Five-Star status, a true testament to the vision and talents of its young executive chef, William Bradley, 32.
"To be recognized with such a small, elite group of restaurants is truly a triumph," said Thomas Voss, president of The Grand Del Mar. "We are immensely proud of this latest recognition. It reflects tremendous hard work, dedication and creativity, and is a well-deserved honor for Chef Bradley and the entire Addison staff." In fact, Studio in Laguna Beach and Addison are the only Five-Star restaurants in Southern California, and Bradley trained for many years under James Boyce, executive chef of Studio, located within Montage Laguna Beach.
In addition, The Grand Del Mar is now one of only five San Diego properties to hold the Mobil Four-Star rating for lodging; a remarkable achievement given the resort has been open just over a year. The Spa at The Grand Del Mar also attained Four-Star status, one of just three local spas to be so ranked.
"In these difficult times consumers recognize the importance -- and value -- of great service and hospitality," said Shane Flaherty president and CEO of Mobil Travel Guide. "For decades, our guide has been a trusted companion to millions of people who rely on our expertise to help them make informed decisions and spend their dollars wisely."
Since 1958, Mobil Travel Guide's ratings process has been based on more than 750 standardized criteria for hotels, more than 250 for restaurants, and more recently, 450 criteria for spas, making it the most rigorous and comprehensive in the industry. The process begins with a facility inspection that considers every aspect of the property, including its overall cleanliness, conditions and location. To achieve Mobil Travel Guide Four- and Five-Star status, properties must meet or exceed the guide's bar-setting service standards, which are determined through an unannounced, undercover service evaluation conducted by expert inspectors.
