San Juan Capistrano
Ricardo's Place

Ricardo's Place

32082 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 92675, United States Of America

Cafés • Mexican • European • Vegetarian


"Whoever does the cooking at Ricardo’s in San Juan Capistrano knows what they’re doing. This is authentic Mexican food, cooked low and slow. When you bite into a taco here, you get the crispy crunch of the freshly-fried taco shell, the cool tang of cheese on top, and finally the hot juicy beef inside. So, this isn’t Mexican food from Taco Bell, or El Torito, or any other watered-down imitation. There is a respectable variety of food here, from the refreshingly-light ceviche, to the oily, guacamole-drenched taquitos. And it’s all good. My favorite dish at this restaurant is the pescado de ajo. That’s “garlic fish”. It’s incredible. Garlic is the key word in this meal, because the moist, perfectly cooked fish comes covered in it, and if you’re not a huge fan then you might have a garlic overdose. Personally, I need garlic like air, so I LOVE this meal. The fish is firm and moist, and the garlic is toasted and mellow. This richness is tempered well by the fresh cucumber, tomato and avocado that comes sliced on the side. Presentation is also great with this order, all laid out on a rustic fish-shaped plate. Another important quality indicator of a Mexican restaurant is the salsa, and Ricardo’s kicks ass. It’s got heat, but it isn’t just hot; it tastes good. With a recipe this great, it’s easy to imagine that it has been passed down from generation to generation. One last thing I want to mention that I really like, is that you can actually see the real Ricardo here! You will sometimes notice a jolly-looking, silver-haired gentleman taking orders or shuttling drinks around. That’s the man himself, and I’ll happily eat at his restaurant for years to come."

Crivello's Italian Bistro

Crivello's Italian Bistro

31882 Del Obispo St, 92675, San Juan Capistrano, United States

Pasta • Seafood • Italian • Vegetarian


"Don't order the steak here. In general, the place is overpriced with average service, average food quality, and portion sizes not reflecting the price. First impressions start small. Our server was Juan and our first interaction was regarding the beverage. We ordered ice water with no lemon; it came with lemon. Not something to stress about but this sort of boded not well for what was to come. Was advised about the specials for that day (the porterhouse and the swordfish). Asked what they cost, he didn't know the prices and had to go check; interesting but again, ok, people have good and bad days when they are not on their game. He came back and told us, porterhouse $45, so in response I asked what is the weight; was told 16oz so I think that's fair price for such a large cut and I order it, cooked medium rare. We also order the calamari appetizer and ask for all to come out together as the meal at once. The appetizer comes out a little ahead but again, no big deal, we can roll with it. The big complaint was about the porterhouse; it is NOT 16 oz and it is NOT the correct thickness of a porterhouse. At its thickest point this was MAYBE half inch, other areas were thinner. Porterhouse is (should be) about 1.25 inches; even USDA specifies this. If it were not for the bone in, I'd think someone thought they were preparing a cut of veal. Being so thin, not surprised they couldn't hit it at medium rare but instead was medium well and well. Also, it had significant spots of hard, very hard gristle. So in summary, the cut was too thin, not at advertised weight, not trimmed correctly, et al... for the price, it was far from normal expectations for a Porterhouse, and WAY below expectations for a $45 cut. As for the calamari, for what that cost, $22, the portion was quite modest, maybe should have been larger. I don't understand the high marks and the pricing of this place considering the service, the food quality, the portion sizes."