I love this place and think the food is GREAT and FILLING AND HEALTHY!
HOWEVER!!!! They do not take any form of payment besides CASH!
This is annoying, and many time I pull up to get a sandwhich, and notice I dont have any cash on me, and decide to go to another restaurant down the street.
Please get with the times and get a card reader
I stopped in here after a morning surf session to get some much needed sustenance in my stomach. My buddy swore by the place and told me it was a great vegetarian spot. Although I'm not a vegetarian I like to check out these sorts of places to see what they have to offer. Most of the time they are either a bulls eye, or a complete miss- the kind of miss where someone is pulling a dart out of their shoulder. This place however hit the target directly on.
Counterculture is located on a nice little stretch on Del Mar with an array of restaurants, shops, and a farmers market from time to time. It's a nice area to grab a bite to eat and pick up some surf gear at Jacks or one of the other thousand surf shops in San Clemente. The place itself is quite plain with a sort of a minimalist modern feel coupled with photos and paintings of the pier, waves and sunsets. The menu has a pretty diverse selection of smoothies, soups and sandwiches. I decided to go with the soup and sandwich deal- potato soup and the avocado and jack sandwich with an americano to wake me up. The soup was not only delicious, but also exactly what one can use after being out in the ocean for a few hours in the morning. The cold sandwich was a nice counterpart to the soup- on top of the avocado and jack there were also sprouts, lettuce and tomato. It sort of reminded me of a vegetarian BLT with the textures and way that the flavors pop out individually. I will say the americano woke me up, but was far too watered down for a single shot of expresso. I like my coffee bitter and this just didn't cut it in my book. Among the other items ordered there was a BBQ vegi burger and a few other soups and sandwiches. I had a bite of the burger- which was very tasty.
All around I say this is a great place in San Clemente to grab a light, healthy and tasty lunch. The food and smoothies are great, the coffee is meh, and the location is premo. The only thing to keep in mind is: CASH ONLY. However, they have an ATM if you're heavy on the plastic and light on the green.
Cheers.
Counterculture is a tiny diner on Del Mar Av. It's few tables are crowded together into a small serving area. The lucky few get the two tables out front. Â If you are lucky enough to get one of the tables, for breakfast, inside or out, Â I recommend the Eggs Benedict. Â I order it with great trepidation because nine out of ten places will muck it up with lemony Hollandaise. Not Counterculture. The Benedict was cheap and delightful. I seldom ever find a place that gets the breakfast right AND gets the coffee right. Usually, the coffee sits in an open pot, it's tasty esters wafting away, leaving behind a bitter brew. Not so here, The coffee was fresh and made for a perfect meal. The service was good and friendly as well. I look forward to going back to Counterculture for a wonderful breakfast well priced.
Review Source:The food here tastes so fresh and everything is so healthy- I love it! The staff is also super friendly.
I had a turkey sandwich with avocado... it comes with lettuce and tomato on squaw bread. The sandwich was massive... I could only finish half. Will definitely be back to try some of their other stuff. EVERYTHING on the menu looks good.
My favorite place for breakfast in San Clemente (this review for breakfast only). This is a family run place and I've always found the staff to be sweet and the service just right and friendly. They make delicious fresh fruit smoothies with soy milk options, a great organic Acai smoothie and have fresh veggie juices. If you're into super health food, they also serve fresh wheatgrass juice.
The breakfast options are straightforward: huevos rancheros, huevos mexicali, breakfast burritos, eggs how you like them, pancakes and good sides of avocado and different salsas. The black beans are amazing. Everything is made fresh. Your orange and grapefruit juice (and watermelon) juice are made in front of  you. Coffee is good too.
I love the simple, homey decor but I can see how people might not like the atmosphere. They could benefit from a cosmetic make-over but for the reasonable prices, fresh and delicious food, it's a little gem near the beach.
This place serves delicious, fresh healthy food. Whats not to like. I highly recommend the Mango ginger smoothie! Oh and on the not so healthy side- the Bacon breakfast burrito :)
Unlike other reviews I read, I had the best service here from all the staff! The gave us extra salsa and refilled our water twice, yes that's right I am a camel I really drink that much water...along w/ a smoothie.
The place is cash only but they have an atm right on the counter as well.
I have been going here since it opened and love the Bombay melt. They have great veggie burgers too.
But without fail, every time I get the same terrible service hoping it will change. The women that work there are so unfriendly its unbelievable. I think it is family owned and that's why they work there. I don't know why I keep going back there because of the bad service. If you forget to bring cash, they get so irritated! And if you take a few seconds to look at the menu, they act like you should already know before you walk in the door of what to order. The men there are friendly always but its rare to see them there.
I really should give less stars but I enjoy the food too much. If it was my restaurant, I would hire new ladies.
I would suggest taking your food to the beach to eat.
The ONLY reason I am giving them two stars instead of one is because the food truly is great. I live in Newport, but work in San Clemente and often find the food options to be limited, I would go there more often if the staff was nicer. Honestly, there has never been a time when I've walked in there and felt welcomed by the girls behind the counter. The last time I went there, I called in my order and gave my name. I find that I have to ask the questions instead of them supplying me with the service they should know. For example, the take my order. And they say, "ok bye" and I respond with, "don't you need my name?" -"Ya ok, what's you name?" And then they try and rush me off the phone again, and I quickly ask, "About how long?" Seriously so irritating. When I walk in to pick up my order, I hope to get someone with a smiling face, yet I don't. I try my hardest to like this place, but the staff totally ruins it. I try to be super bubbly hoping the girl behind the counter will take the stick out of her a**, by asking her how her day is going so far - shouldn't she be the one asking me this question?! Working on Del Mar street, I know how businesses are struggling, do they just not need the business? I don't know, maybe they don't?? So anyway, I say, "My name is Dana, I'm here to pick up an order I called in." With an attitude, the girl says, "aaaaand, what did you order?" REALLY?!?!!! How many Dana's just called in an order?! Slightly caught off guard and honestly clueless as to what the name of the sandwich is called, I say, "umm, I don't remember the name of the sandwich - I just called it in, it should be under 'Dana'" she didn't seem satisfied with my answer, so I pick up one of the menus and start looking for the name of the sandwich that I ordered - "Oh, it's called The Life Extender" Anyway, maybe I'm overracting, but things like this happen EVERYTIME I go there. So, boycott forever or hope that a manager or owner reads this and hires new staff or trains them in customer service?
Review Source:I absolutely agree with the 4 and 5 star reviews for the food. I've been here a number of times due to the tasty, tasty sandwiches and the great location. The inside tables are pretty yucky but you can take out or eat on the sidewalk, which is great.
HOWEVER, I think I'm being generous with the 3 stars because the service is so, so bad. (Luckily you can grab your food and get out of there to enjoy elsewhere.) The food takes a long time - ridiculously long for what they're making. They actually seem to be moving purposefully ssllllooooowly. They're annoyed to have customers. I dropped by for a coffee the other day and then realized I forgot my cash. Rather than direct me to an ATM the woman looked at me, shrugged, and dumped out the coffee.
The kicker is that my happy kid immediately started crying and fussing when we walked in there - he seemed to pick right up on the negative energy.
If it were a restaurant I would knock it down to 2 stars because the staff pretty much ruins my experience every time I'm there. I don't understand how such an unhappy place has great food. But [sigh] that delicious chicken salad... mmm....
This is fast becoming my favorite lunch place in San Clemente!
As everyone has said, the Bombay Melt is absolutely delicious and you must try it but this place is no one-trick pony. The Avocado N' Jack sandwich is delicious and healthy too! The Eggs Florentine are also good. Their Honey Vanilla Shakes are fantastic. The Garden of Allah is nice if you're looking for something non-fruit but their Strawberry flavor is to die for! Also, they have this ginger sesame dressing that is completely life changing; I will no longer accept anything else on my salads.
To top it all off, the staff is really friendly. It is cash only but they have an ATM in the store and it has the smallest surcharge I've seen around (only $1.50).
Really good healthy food. The Bombay Sandwich and Salads are the <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbomb.com&s=bb4f996415a9c2f21137e27cfb68f439a48cec2652b53e9b50dd7e766dbe177e" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://bomb.com</a>! Only thing is i WISH they put a little more kick in the chicken curry.
Also no cards, just cash and checks :( I did not know walking n and had to borrow money from a friend (I hate doing that).
Give it a try if your in San Clemente.... Good lunch spot!
I totally missed out on  this place for years because it was called "captian mauris" and I thought it would be full of salty dogs smoking cigars.  I was so wrong.  What a wonderful vegetarian selection.  I would give it 5 stars except the seating is not very comfortable and its not remodeled so it feels a bit dirty .  I don't  really like  to bring my small children inside.  If you can snag the outdoor table, its better, but not good for kids because too close to a busy street and sidewalk without a fence.
Review Source:Having grown up just up the street, I've watched the San Clemente culture change from beach to affluent business types. This place is a great throwback to the beach vibe that suits SC so well.
Healthy, fresh foods top are sprinkled in the menu, along with the perversive affluent lattes and cappuccinos.
I had the Bombay Melt- a curried chicken salad toasted on an English muffin with jack cheese, tomato, and red onion. It was very good, but missing a "sharp flavor." a squirt of lemon juice would've done wonders, but I added salt and it was good enough. Side salad and a snapple finished it off- but at $10 it's a but pricey.
Overall the vibe and sandwich were good, wish they accepted cards (cash only). Â I'll be back to sample their veggie juices, and to people watch on the patio.
Every San Clemente resident or visitor should try Counterculture (as i refer to it now). I usually eat here for a weekend breakfast or a Sunday lunch. A family owned spot with Dad in the kitchen making great hot food using fresh produce and Daughters and Son helping up front making custom juices and smoothies. For lunch the classic item is the chicken curry open face sandwich served on an english muffin, very good and a must try! I usually order the veggie rap. Which has a nicely grilled veggie patty, sprouts, tomatoes, cucumber, other greens topped with a great oil & vinegar dressing. I am not a Vegetarian but i really enjoy their veggie patties. I usually order one of the herbal teas sit out side on Del Mar and enjoy downtown San Clemente. The staff is very friendly making it feel like everyone is a local. The veggie breakfast burrito is my favorite morning order, which is great replacement for your typical greasy fast food mexican stop burrito. This has fresh grilled bell peppers, onion and tomato with melted cheese and eggs. They have great smoothies that are made fresh with real fruit and juicer machine. You can sit and watch them load fresh fruit directly into the juicer as they make your order.
It is a small spot on Del Mar St. (aka Main St as i like to call it). I drove by it for years not knowing what i was missing before I finally tried it. Now it is definitely is my rotation. I highly recommend it to all.
San Clemente has a good smattering of dining options, and I was tempted to try one of several taquerias a block or two off the main drags (El Camino Real and Avenida del Mar). Â But I was already overdue for a veggie infusion, and I found more leafy options on Captain Mauri's menu than would be likely just about anywhere else.
There's a chalkboard near the cash register with daily specials. Â When I was there the main dish special was grilled fresh fish. Â I don't remember the variety of fish, but it was excellent -- cooked just enough, and underneath it was that healthy heap of dark greens I was looking for. Â Also had the soup of the day; don't remember exactly what it was, but I do remember it was perfect. Â Also shared a gigantic carrot, ginger, and beet concoction with my buddy.
Six kinds of veggie burgers, plenty of made-to-order fresh juices, and tempting smoothies, too.
The staff was efficient and all smiles. Â I think I'll go back soon.
LOVE IT... LOVE IT... LOVE IT... What else can i say, the food is great, people are really friendly too. I live here in San Clemente and never ate here before so much great choices to choose from that I could not only get one so i bought lunch and dinner. For lunch I just had to go with every body else and have that BOMBAY MELT MM MM Delicious and for dinner I brought home a veggie wrap which is really good too. I cant Believe I have never been here before, but i definitely know where i will be eating alot more .Oh I forget to mention that very good veggie juice that i had it had apple and carrots and OJ oh my cant go wrong with this place its definitely a winner !!
Review Source:I don't get this place nor do I really get the positive reviews as a majority of their dishes are very simple and over priced (10 bucks for a turkey burger?!).
I picked up a turkey burger to go, and within 5 minutes of eating eat it soaked thru the bread and became a soggy mess. It didn't taste that bad, but there are ways of avoiding this. I also went there recently for breakfast and ordered a bagel, which was decent but almost $5.00 for a bagel w/ cheese and bacon (just go to bagel shack next time). My girlfriend ordered oatmeal w/ mixed berries which was beyond disgusting. It looked like white puke and tasted like a mushy, unflavored mess.
So here's the thing that annoys me about this place. IT DOES NOT TAKE CREDIT/ATM CARDS. Sure, you can pull cash out next to their register and be charged a fee. However, this is a restaurant and the 21st century. If you only take cash (and checks for some reason) I will not go back. Checks?! I thought only old ladies wrote checks. TAKE CARDS!
I really like coming here for lunch. Â I always order the Bombay Chicken Melt which comes with the soup of the day or salad.
The Bombay Chicken Melt comes hot on an english muffin, covered with tomatoes and melted cheese. Â The chicken is mixed with some kind of delicious curry sauce.
Make sure to ask what the soup of the day is because they are usually really unique and tasty.
Captain Mauri's is a great little place for breakfast or lunch. Â They have many healthier options and a ton of vegetarian items, including many styles of veggie burgers (gotta try one next time...). Â I kept it simple and ordered the "avocado n' jack" sandwich -- avocado and jack cheese with sprouts, tomato, and lettuce on squaw bread. Â It was delicious, and I got to enjoy it while soaking up some rays on their front outdoor patio. Â
The prices are truly a bargain -- $5-7 for a sandwich, salad, wrap, or veggie burger -- what a deal! Â They also have many kinds of smoothies and shakes if you're into that kind of thing. Â Additionally, the Capt. has a good offering of coffee and tea drinks.
I definitely be back the next time I'm in San Clemente. Â I'll bet the people watching is great here, especially during the summer.
Note: Â they do NOT take credit cards!! Â This is a cash only joint.
Great little casual place on Del Mar. Â I originally thought it was a vegetarian place, but they offer a decent selection for carnivores like me in addition to the healthy stuff.
The hollandaise sauce on the eggs benedict was so tasty, and not just a bunch of butter and oil. Â The omelets are gigantic and not greasy so you don't get sick after 3 bites, and they have perfectly browned shredded potato hashbrowns which seem to be hard to find nowadays.
Smoothies are made with fresh fruit, not canned. Â A great local joint.
After living 6 years down the road from this place, my hubby & I finally tried it. Good stuff! The menu had a wide array of healthy non-meat options, as well as a few carnivore delights.
Having both grown up vegetarian (but not staying with it), we both love vegeburgers. Captain Mauri's were good, but tasted very similar to Grillers (boo) - I was really hoping for something unique. Their smoothies were very tasty.
Service was decent - the older lady who seems to run things was really sweet; however, one of the workers there didn't seem too happy to be there (was it a case of the Mondays?).
FYI - they only take CASH. They do have an ATM right at the counter, though both that line and the phone line are connected, so make sure to use the ATM when the workers are not on the phone (they get disconnected and grouchy...) Better yet, run to the BofA ATM on the corner of Del Mar & Ola Vista.
This is my favorite San Clemente restaurant so far. I keep going back, so that's a good sign.
This is one of those places I would never have walked into on my own. It looks pretty unassuming from the outside, and you get a sense it is some sort of health food or vegan-only restaurant or something. I don't mind vegetarian food, but I certainly don't need sprouts on every meal of the day either.
However, this place actually serves some very good sandwiches, salads and soups. The names are kind of funky, so I can never remember what is in each sandwich before I read the menu, but all I have tried have been delicious.
Yes, if you order an avacado and jack sandwich it will come with sprouts (unless you tell them to skip the sprouts), but the sandwich is very tasty all the same. And folks who have mentioned the curry chicken salad and the Bali burger aren't lying either - both are awesome.
Last time I was in, my friend ordered a hamburger (something I didn't know they served), and it came with grilled onions. Needless to say, we were all jealous.
I used to eat here all of the time. It's not vegan...just to let you know cus someone said that they were. I used to get the Bombay Melt all of the time...so good...I miss that thing. I am vegan now, so anything near by that I can eat makes me happy. They serve breakfast now... and their new name is Captain Mauri's. It's run by a very nice family and they keep it nice and clean.
Review Source:I have walked by at least 200 times and never stopped. I am in constant search of decent veggie fare around these parts..The exterior has a pretty unassuming "average" cafe look to it. Trust me.The Bali burger is outstanding- I will be eating this burger at least once a week from now on. They also have non-veggie items that looked pretty good also.
Review Source:Thanks to a suggestion by Stewie B. I located a vegan friendly spot in San Clemente to please my no-meat eating friend.
The place had a nice little menu to choose from and according to the fast moving little Asian woman behind the counter who seemed to be spear-heading the entire operation- all of the meat and produce was organic without pesticides and any of those weird things they feed non-organic chickens and turkeys. The menu had a lot of smoothie and juice options. Their sandwich choices included veggie, tuna, chicken and turkey. They also had veggie burgers offered a ton of different ways and a few different salads. Â They offer 'homemade' soups as well and had a breakfast menu.
I opted for a veggie burger 'Bali" style which had a ginger sesame dressing and was loaded with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, sprouts and avocado all neatly packaged on a whole wheat bun. Â For kicks I had a fresh bowl of lentil soup which was just as delicious as my burger.
wow, where else in San Clemente can I eat lentil soup and eat organic produce while wearing my Birkenstocks?? (Yes Stewie, I wore the Birks!!) .
minus one star because the place could have been neatened up a bit, tables washed, old newspapers tossed etc.
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