TheBeachBum "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes..."

The meats are all top quality (Boars Head, etc.). The bread is made fresh daily. Every kind of specialty Italian deli meat & cheese you can imagine along with all those other hard to find Italian items necessary for a true Italian meal.

The Pizzeria offers top quality pizzas and made to order subs. My favorite is the `Cortina’s Special’ with dry salami, cotto salami, capicolla, mortadella, provolone cheese with their own vinaigrette on a freshly made French roll. I live quite a few miles away, so I usually have one there and order one to-go for lunch the next day. The pizzas are like nothing you will find this side of Italy. The crust is fresh and not too thick, but not too thin. The toppings are all fresh, high quality meats and veggies with generous amounts of cheeses right from the market’s deli case. Take some home; it’s just as good the next day!

We were doing the tourist thing on the wharf and I was tasting the clam chowder offerings that most all of the restaurants hawk up and down the wharf. I thought Gilbert’s (the restaurant, not the market) was the best of the group, so we we went in.

We weren’t looking for food, but it happened to be happy hour so we sat at the bar and ordered a couple of drinks. The calamari appetizer was only $2 extra w/ drinks during happy hour so we added it on (the chowder was not a happy hour offering.

The bartender poured a couple of `healthy’ drinks and brought us the calamari right away. As we were enjoying our calamari the bartender overheard my remark to the person seated next to me on the results of my clam chowder taste test. Within a minute or so he brought me a bowl ‘on the house’!

We didn’t actually stay for dinner, but I can attest to the friendliness of the bar staff, the great clam chowder and the fried calamari appetizer.

A local’s favorite, families and surfers alike. A bit on the weathered side, but the food is authentic Mexican style and the salsa is a winner too. They have won the San Clemente Salsa Challenge quite a few times. The service is friendly (many of them are from the same family) and will often sit down and chat if you have the time.
The Mexican food is priced very reasonable. Beer by the bottle or glass only (no pitchers), wine and tequila margaritas.

Try a Family Carnitas plate (feeds 4+) or a Baja style fish taco (don’t forget the chips & salsa).

I’d rate it higher if they would bring back the pitchers of beer.

I come here all the time, but the last time I was here it was Enchilada Monday, so that’s what I had. I ordered one carnitas and one carne asada. I have traveled throughout Mexico for over 30 years and I find their enchilada sauce is made in the authentic Mexican style that I prefer. Family owned and operated since 1985 by Gustavo, Alberto and Enrique Hernandez. Give it a try. Dress is beach casual (shorts, t-shirt and Rainbows. Be sure and say “Hola!” to Thomas (a waiter/busman) and be nice to the other help as most are members of his immediate family.

In 2007 Adele’s was named the Best Breakfast in San Clemente along with San Clemente’s Best Drink Contest Winner! Adele Lux, was born and raised in San Clemente. She spent 20 years as a waitress in local establishments such as the Sunrise Café. She saved her money and in July of 1998, with $2,000 in the bank, she opened the doors to Adele’s Café in the Old City Plaza in downtown San Clemente. She outgrew that location and in March of 2007 Adele’s Cafe moved to its present location inside the lobby at the San Clemente Inn. She added a small stage and left room for a dance floor so after dinner you can sing and dance `till closing.

From great home style food to steaks and seafood, everything’s great! Definitely go for breakfast (be sure to get some of her killer skillet hash-browns), but be sure to come back for dinner. Reasonable pricing. A fun atmosphere with live music five nights per week. Don’t miss John Solone and the band’s Tribute to Sinatra with Shelly Morgan singing all of your old favorites on Friday’s at 7:00pm. I just got back from Las Vegas where I went to see The Rat Pack and this brought back some of those moments for me. It was a lot of fun.

I pass Ottavio’s often on my way to the Central Coast and thought it must be good, `cause it’s been around so long. This last time I hit a slow down in traffic in the area, it was nearing dinner time, so I decided to give it a try. Well, it may look Italian, and claim to serve Italian, but it’s not my style of Italian.

I ordered ravioli with marinara sauce and it was terrible (at least for me). the sauce was heavy and loaded with oregano, not basil. The ravioli was thick and cheesy. I prefer the lighter style found in Rome and southern Italy and Ottavio’s didn’t make it.

I’ve since read some of the reviews on this place and it seems to be a hit with the locals (hence, it’s still in business), but it was a mis for me.

Service was so-so.

In 2007 Adele’s was named the Best Breakfast in San Clemente along with San Clemente’s Best Drink Contest Winner! Adele Lux, was born and raised in San Clemente. She spent 20 years as a waitress in local establishments such as the Sunrise Café. She saved her money and in July of 1998, with $2,000 in the bank, she opened the doors to Adele’s Café in the Old City Plaza in downtown San Clemente. She outgrew that location and in March of 2007 Adele’s Cafe moved to its present location inside the lobby at the San Clemente Inn. She added a small stage and left room for a dance floor so after dinner you can sing and dance `till closing.

From great home style food to steaks and seafood, everything’s great! Definitely go for breakfast (be sure to get some of her killer skillet hash-browns), but be sure to come back for dinner. Reasonable pricing.

A fun atmosphere with live music five nights per week. Don’t miss John Solone and the band’s Tribute to Sinatra with Shelly Morgan singing all of your old favorites on Friday’s at 7:00pm. I just got back from Las Vegas where I went to see The Rat Pack and this brought back some of those moments for me. It was a lot of fun.

Boiled, not smoked, ribs served caked with sauce. Dirty, sticky, tables and indifferent employees. What more need I say?

Sid’s has been closed for years. Use’d to be one of those great word-of-mouth finds that everyone loves to run across. Some of the BEAT steaks in Orange County for the price, but DO NOY ask for salt!

Gone, but not forgotten!
RIP Sid!