We love to go to Cafe 207 and sit at the bar to eat our dinner.  Pete and his team do the best job and the food is fabulous.  It is the BEST steak house and we look forward to his specials.  Oysters, lobster, Chilean sea  bass, and ahi, to name a few!!   There is an outstanding wine list and great beer on tap.  Hubba-Hubba!!  Brenda Joy & Ken Bartels
Review Source:Perfect...as in perfectly awful. I don't even know where to start.
I can't say I've ever waited 45 minutes for an appetizer, but there's a first time for everything, apparently. And Yelpers, you've totally led us astray, and on a romantic date night, no less. Actually, we never EVEN received an appetizer because we left after 45 minutes. And what was worse? No explanation, no excuse, not one single reason given as to why it could take even remotely that long to cook bacon-wrapped prawns. Just pathetic, and even pathetic is too generous of a description. And we weren't the only diners that weren't served dinner or appetizers in a timely manner. Of the five or so tables around us, only one group received their meal, and the restaurant wasn't even packed. On a busy night, this potentially could have been forgivable. But when your restaurant is half-full and the service is still terrible? I don't know how you can excuse that. What was worse? The fact that Cafe 207 was out of two of the four main entrees listed on their already limited menu. Really? Â
Aside from the trainwreck of a dinner, romantic diners beware. Ole Tavern is inconveniently located next door, and we were treated to a wasted Cliff Notes history lesson of the British Empire from some drunk fruitloop. Fun, indeed! And while I won't blame Cafe 207 for this, it certainly added to our experience. Dinner with a show, who would have thought?!?!
Say what you want about the speed of service, the staff takes pride in the interactions. If speed of service is what you want, bark up a chain restaurant.
**If however you want a dining experience, I mean the kind of experience that wins you over, the kind that takes hours to savor mentally and with your tastebuds, then you will not find a better experience**
The co-owners are crack ups. Skip the regular tables sit at the bar and shoot the breeze over a glass of wine or a great beer. If you have questions, let them tackle the those inquiries and sell you on the entries. Nothing has ever failed to make my mouth dance.
Prices are not cheap but it's an experience, one I save up for an wait all month long for.
The owners mother who runs the adjacent mexican restaurant recommended that my wife and I check out 207. She showed us their menu and it looked mah-velous.
Unfortunately, after being seated we waited for 10 minutes and *crickets* nobody came by to wait on us. Unfortunate. We came in quite excited, but left quite disappointed after 10 plus minutes of no service whatsoever. I brought this up to the chef on my way out and he was at best aloof.
The food was fantastic. Â The location? Excellent. Small but able wine list. The thing is that it's not just about the food, right? The service was slow and awkward. Â The open kitchen is cool but let's face it: Â If you're a chef in an open kitchen (and you're NOT chef Ramsey) you have to remember that people can hear you! Â We'll probably be back to give it another try (close to home and good food) but Cafe 207 could easily be 5 stars if they just improved their service.
Review Source:If you're looking for a local gem where the ambiance is romantic, the food is delectable & the service is first class, then you must experience Cafe 207! Â Walking in, it felt like a cafe. Â Once seated & waited upon by the great staff, our perception of the place changed & we were lost in the romantic ambiance. Â Our dinner was prepared fresh & perfectly to our liking. Â Our taste buds were dancing for joy! Â Here's my favorite part - Chef & Co-owner, Darin Corralez, made it a point to come out & personally check on us because we were celebrating our 1 month dating Anniversary. Â He even took time to show us around next door per my husband's nostalgic request. Â Now that's what I call excellent personal Guest Service!! Â So you ask "do I recommend this place?".....ABSOLUTELY & POSITIVELY!!!!
Review Source:This place is amazing! I got the seared Sea Scallops dish and let me tell you, it's unbelievable!
The scallop was cooked perfectly. Your fork will cut right through it like butter. So moist and tasty with a beautiful caramelization on the outside. Literally the best scallops ive had. Oh and the creamy risotto! I can write an essay explaining how good it is.
The chef knows how to cook believe me.
Went there for date night with my wife.  Food was good but they were out of key dishes and condiments.  They had no rib-eye steaks so we ordered the filets instead.  When the filets came after much waiting, they had no port wine sauce on them.  When I asked about this they told me they were out...OUT OF SAUCE?  REALLY?  Then we asked what they had for desert and the server said they only had creme brûlée.  One desert to choose and that was it!  Keep in mind this is on a Friday night and they weren't that busy.  Meanwhile the service was terrible.  We never really knew who was waiting on us and just had to grab someone's attention when we could.  When the bill finally came I was hopeful they would comp our appetizer to apologize for not having any sauce for our steaks.  If not that at least offer us a drink or coffee to make up for our main dishes being incomplete.  Of course, that did not happen.  They really missed a beat every step of the way.  Three stars only because the food we did have was really good in spite of all their shortcomings!  We may go back and give them one last try but my expectations will be way low.  I'd like to think it was just an off night but after reading some the other seemingly honest reviews, I have my doubts.
Review Source:My husband and I are regulars here. Â It is great food with a casual atmosphere. Â They are excellent at suggesting the perfect wine and you can order off the menu with no issues. Â The owners, staff and chefs like to chat and have a good time with the guests. Â The guests talk to people at other tables. Â If you are looking for a stuffy, formal place this is not it. Â If you want to enjoy good food, get a little tipsy, meet a fellow diner and savor the experience of dining out, then head to 207. Â
My husband likes the salmon salad and always asks about what beef cuts they have available. He always likes the unique beers on tap too. Â I like the seabass and filet. I usually order it with risotto or gorgonzola mashed potatoes and asparagus or spinach. Â I love the spread for the bread and we get the artichokes or mushrooms often. Â
We had our wedding rehearsal dinner on the rooftop patio, which was so great. Â It was perfectly intimate for 40 guests and the food was so, so much better than any other place we could have chosen. Â We served salmon and NY Strip. Â Pete, the owner, created a really amazing app spread for us - fresh and beautiful - and then grilled the meat to order. Â They had a bar up there and a little stage for speeches.
Having heard about Cafe 207 for years, with my wife's sister in town, we decided to give it a try. Â The atmosphere was fun, and we were greeted by a pleasant and very chatty woman who then brought us water, twice. Â We ordered two apps and some salads along with some beers.... after that everything went pear shaped. Â
The apps were OK, not great, but not terrible, but clearly not made with quality ingredients. The artichokes were still cold in the middle, and the bacon wrapped prawns were tough and over cooked.
Then we waited on the salads.... which never came. Â Some guy who could have been the manager came and asked if we wanted anything more, about which we guessed he meant appetizers, as we had already ordered the salads. Â They never came, but the check did, and it included the charge for the salads. Â I asked for this to be removed since we never got them, and the manager said, "what ever".
And that, pretty much sums up the whole place. Â They couldn't care less. Â No attempt was made to ask if we wanted the salads, or, sorry, they had made a mistake, (not that they were busy, the place was practically empty and they were mostly just talking amongst themselves), brought back the change, (shorted me $0.63).
Nearly the strangest "dining" experience any of us has ever had. Â Perhaps the place is going under and nobody there cares to try. Â Sad really.
I went to Cafe 207 with a girlfriend a couple of weeks ago. We loved it! We brought a bottle of wine because they have NO CORKAGE FEE!
We were greeted by the owners, Darren and his partner, who gave us friendly and efficient service through the whole meal. We almost felt like we were at a friend's home for dinner.
My friend had the salmon and I had the ahi. Both dishes used the freshest ingredients and were beautifully presented.
Cafe 207 is on the more expensive end but well worth it. A great San Clemente find!
I posted a video with Darren and some pictures of our meals at <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthescvibe.com%2F2010%2F10%2Fcafe-207%2F&s=b365f4d9ca5e96b077c339032ede899ea975776677b60c93793af7ba22971a5c" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://thescvibe.com/201…</a>
1) The food is fabulous. I do everything but lick my plate. Â 2) The staff is hands down nice and accommodating. They are willing to tweak your food for you. I.E.- give you all asparagus instead of mixed veggies. That alone is awesome. 3) Make reservations. You don't want to miss out.
Review Source:I am new to the area (from San Diego) and recently discovered this great little gem. Â I love good food and wine and consider myself somewhat of a foodie. Â I read reviews here on Yelp and, while they were old reviews, I found that they were all consistent, therefore decided to try. Â My friend and I were very pleased and I can honestly say that I cannot wait for someone to visit so that I can go back! Â In fact, the couple sitting next to us indicated that they had recently discovered it as well and it was their second visit in less than two weeks. Â This speaks volumes.
The restaurant is quite charming and very, very quaint. Â There was a young man playing acoustic guitar adding additional warmth to the ambiance; he was very good and we enjoyed chatting it up with him in between his playing. Â I admit that, for a small restaurant (limited seating indoors with outdoor seating) in the small town of San Clemente, this place does an outstanding job! Â The food, I found, is superb; flavorful and great portions. Â The garlic butter and bread - yum, yum, yum! Â We did not have dessert, but I am looking forward to doing so next time. Â The only thing that my friend and I were disappointed by was that we waited nearly an hour before our dishes were served and they confused one of our orders, but I can honestly say that this does not deter us from dinning there again. Â Next time I'll be sure to order an appetizer to tie us over until dinner arrives. Â Cafe 207 is definitely a place for an intimate dinner for two or for a quaint dinner with a handful of friends; it is not the place for huge parties, unless you want to sit outside. Â I highly recommend Cafe 207.
Where do I start?
I was really excited to try this place from everyone's recommendations. I had a date night with my husband and this place sounded perfect. I should have known when I first called for a reservation when the person on the other end was extremely rude asking why I would be calling on a Saturday for a reservation that night. Jokingly he said he could "squeeze me in". Guess that should have been my first warning.
We arrived early and they actually seated us - leaning towards 5 stars at this point! We had already had some wine and cheese elsewhere so we wanted to just get another glass of wine and order our entrees. I noticed the person sitting next to me with a fish but didn't see it on the menu. I asked the waitress who kindly asked the chef about it and they told me they had one more halibut left and hadn't had a lot which is why it wasn't on the menu. At this point I am loving this place and wanting to give it 5 stars.
20 minutes goes by, 30, 40, 45 - we are starving, still haven't received our entree and have a babysitter at home. The waitress apologized and said there was a big reunion out front and they had been preparing their appetizers. Why they wouldn't rush out a two top is beyond me but at this point we are very grumpy, starving, and not enjoying our date night very much. They did give us another drink each complimentary and our entree finally came 50 minutes later. The food was actually outstanding (a little to much butter, but...) but the wait was unbearable. I honestly don't know the last time I ever waited that long for dinner.
Needless to say...the two stars from me. Will I go again? Not to sure, probably not. Don't want to chance the fact that I'll be waiting that long again. Although the food is good, there are a lot of other places to go especially for the price range.
Hey Sophie! Pour me a glass of red, you know what i like!  I can't tell you how many times i have said  that exact line...  feel like part of the family, and come in and enjoy the best of San Clemente, fine casual dining. I enjoy the fact that their menus state that if you bring the kids, its possible they could be hauled off, and sold. Bacon wrapped prawns in a mustard sause to die for.  And highly recommend the RASTA PASTA for those who want some heat.  Kudos.
Review Source:207 is our "go to" place when we get a date night or want to meet out of town guests. Â I always have the salmon and can truly say it is the best I have had in So Cal - and that is coming from a NW gal who loves her salmon! Â My husband loves the steak and it seems anywhere else we go he is always saying, "good but not as good as 207." Â He also goes crazy for the sauteed mushrooms and I love their green salad.
The space is inviting and charming and the service is excellent. Â The staff really know their stuff and want you to have a good experience. Â We always have a great time there - and if we go elsewhere we leave wishing we had gone to 207! Â Enjoy!
Thank you to the Cafe 207 crew for always providing the best service, the most delicious food and a very fun & friendly atmosphere. I must also mention that their wine selection is very good with a reasonable price. You can see their wines through a glass window in their temperature controlled wine room. Try their specials, which to me, were always scrumptious. Also, try to get a reservation to sit at the counter where you can see your food being prepared, while you can chit-chat with the chef, sous chef & the wait-staff. It's just too bad that I'm too far away from them to be able to come regularly.
Review Source:Cafe 207 was a 4 or even a 5 a few years ago. I was blown away when I first went there and it was without a doubt the best restaurant in San Clemente and even perhaps one of the best in South OC. Â I think they have had new management and a new chef though and the quality is now average and the food is overpriced for what it has become. Â If I had not experienced the original version, I would probably have given 3 stars, but it is so sad the quality had declined.
Review Source:207 is hands down the best restaurant in San Clemente. I'm even willing to make the statement that it it's one of the top 5 restaurants in Southern California. First, Â the food is absolutely amazing. I think I've had close to everything on their menu. The steak is tender and delicious, the lamb is saucy and amazing, and their salads are creative and superb. While everything on the menu is great, I highly recommend going with the daily specials since those are the unique dishes you can't get everyday. And for dessert, they have the BEST creme brule, EVER! While I may not be much of a food critic, I do consider myself a dessert connoisseur, and I would rate 207's creme brule a 10 out of 10! Even if you're not much of a creme brule fan, you absolutely have to try it. It'll change you...
The Service is something else. The entire staff, from the chefs to the waitresses are such great people. The first time my boyfriend and I went, the chef came over and started chatting with us towards the end of the night, making us feel welcomes and at home. Since then, we've made 207 our regular dining option. Friday nights when we just want a nice dinner, with tasty food, relaxed atmosphere, and a fun & vibrant environment, Cafe 207 is our obvious choice.
And I would agree with the other reviewer - I've taken some extremely foodie folks to this restaurant and they have all been impressed with the whole package. So definitely give it a try soon!
I always recommend this place to anyone looking for a great filet. My husband and I stumbled onto this place back in 2005. We were so impressed we decided to have the rehearsal dinner for our wedding here and have come back often ever since. Yes, it is small, and for our rehearsal dinner, they actually closed off the patio for us. I believe they take reservations, but everytime I have gone, we do not make any and end up waiting, 20 minutes or so, but it IS worth the wait. As I said, the filet is the best filet I have ever had and the people running the place are so friendly. My husband and I have sat at the counter/ bar area a few times and end up being offered to try all sorts of food (on the house of course!). They have a good wine selection, too. I have recommended this place often and I get great feedback so I figured I should share this on yelp!
Review Source:If you are trying to impress someone, or just want an amazing meal, this is THE place to go in San Clemente. Â FABULOUS food, we have never been disappointed here. Â This place lacks the pretentiousness that you find in many fine restaurants. Â You can dress up, if that is one of the requirements to make it feel like a night "out" for you, but you can also show up in flip-flops and no one will bat an eye. Â It is definitely a place that you want to allow some time for; enjoying a long leisurely meal is the best plan here. Â Get a few courses, enjoy some fine wine. Â Try whatever is on special, I trust the chef to make anything perfectly! Â It is *very* small, but they have some outdoor seating to accommodate more guests on the busier nights. Â The outdoor area has heat lamps and is in a little garden with a koi pond, so it is suprisingly quiet and romantic, despite the fact that it is on the main drag El Camino Real. Â It is definitely more of a place for "dinner for two" than for a big birthday bash. Â Candles, ambient lighting, very cozy and intimate to say the least. Â The waitresses are very "real" and tell it like it is, as in "this is what's good tonight, you might like to try this wine with that meal, take your time, we're turning people away rather than rushing you, etc." Â Steaks are always superb (I don't know what his "rub" is, but it is amazing!), their salads are super fresh (where do they get their produce?) and the bacon-wrapped-figs are to die for. Â I have had them both as an appetizer and as a dessert! Â The sky is the limit!
Review Source:
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