BEST APPETIZERS
Golden Ole PEOPLE’S CHOICE OLE AWARDS 2010
THE FISHERMAN’S RESTAURANT AND BAR 611 Avenida Victoria, 949.498.6390, www.thefishermansrestaurant.com
A lineup of 22 different starters sets Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar apart from the pack in this category. The San Clemente Pier eatery places heavy emphasis on seafood to kick off a meal. Patrons will be pleased with the variety of oysters, clams, mussels, shrimp, ahi, crab and calarmari available. Others will enjoy staples like Fisherman’s mozzarella sticks, portions of hot wings and chicken strips. —SNG
Silver Ole
BEACHFIRE BAR AND GRILL
204 Avenida Del Mar, 949.366.3232, www.beachfire.com
NOMINEES: 9 Style Sushi • Antoine’s Café • Avilas El Ranchito • The Cellar • Café 207 • Café Mimosa • Cafe Rae • Cannons • Carbonara Trattoria • Cassano’s Pizza • Crispins Comfort Food Restaurant • Duke’s • El Patio • Enne Cucina Italiana • Fratello’s Italian Family • Hapa J’s • Hulaville Island Cafe and Company • Irons in the Fire • Iva Lee’s Restaurant • Jacobi’s on the Alley • La Rocco’s • La Siesta Restaurant • Village Mediterranean Rim • Mongkut Thai • Nick’s San Clemente • OC Tavern Grill & Sports Bar • OltreMare • Pizza Port • Selma’s Chicago Pizzeria • The Shore • Sonny’s Pizza and Pasta • Stillwater Cafe • Sundried Tomato Cafe• The Melting Pot • The Next Door • Vine 2009 WINNERS: Gold: BeachFire Bar and Grill; Silver: Gordon James Grill
BEST BURGER
Golden Ole
THE RIDERS CLUB CAFE
1701 N. El Camino Real, 949.388.3758, www.ridersclubcafe.com
The Riders Club Cafe boasts “slow fast food.” They make their own pickles and kettle chips and even though they technically only have three patties on their burger menu—natural beef, ground in house, house-made veggie patty, chicken or portabella—not to mention the varied cheese selection and impressive beer selection to boot (think Belgian beers for winter). In all, the ingredients are top-notch so don’t expect to ask for a regular ol’ burger, cheese and katsup. —CS
Silver Ole Oh No Roll at Taka-O. Photo by Jasmine Smith
BEST PIZZA
Golden Ole
LA ROCCO’S
122 S. El Camino Real, 949.366.8890, www.laroccospizzaonline.com
They may be the closest a West Coaster can get to real New York pies. Rumor has it that every LaRocco’s 18 inch pie is made with water that comes to them directly from New York and they make their homemade dough and sauce from scratch daily. Slices and made-to-order pies are both available. —CS
Silver Ole
SELMA’S CHICAGO PIZZERIA 218 Avenida Del Mar, 949.276.2828, www.selmaschicagopizzeria.com
NOMINEES: 2 for 1 Pizza Co • Antoine’s Café • Buonos Pizza & Pasta • Cassano’s Pizza • Cucina Pizzeria • Domino’s Pizza • The Cellar • First Class Pizza • Fratello’s Italian Family Restaurant • Hulaville Island Cafe and Company • Italian Cravings • Izza Pizzeria • Pizza Port • Romano’s Pasta and Pizzeria • Round Table Pizza • Sonny’s Pizza and Pasta • Stillwater Cafe • Stuft Pizza & Brewing • Sundried Tomato American Bistro • Surfside Pizza • The Fisherman’s Restaurant & Bar • Tina & Vince’s Italian Deli • Zpizza • Papa Murphy’s • Take N Bake Pizza • Pizza Hut 2009 WINNERS: Gold: Sonny’s Pizza & Pasta; Silver: Selma’s Chicago Pizzeria
BEST SUSHI
Golden Ole
TAKA-O JAPANESE RESTAURANT 425 N. El Camino Real, 949.498.7111, www.taka-orestaurant.com
Taka-O celebrated its 30-year anniversary this year and it’s by far San Clemente’s most-visited sushi restaurant. With plenty of seating in the bar and in the restaurant, the wait for a table is never long even though the place is always packed. When Roger and Kelly Sugano opened Taka-O, they brought to Orange County its first Japanese restaurant. Now they’re known for their “Oh No Roll” and hoppin’ karaoke in the bar. —CS
Silver Ole
NOMINEES: Adele’s at the San Clemente Inn • Antoine’s Café • A’s Burger • Bad to the Bone BBQ • BeachFire Bar and Grill • Billy’s Meats, Seafood & Deli • Burger Junkies • Burger Stop • Café Mimosa • Cafe Rae • Carl’s Jr. • Chronic Tacos • Corky’s Family Restaurant • Crispins Comfort Food Restaurant • Daphne’s Greek Cafe • Denny’s • Dukes • El Mariachi Restaurant • The Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar • Hulaville Island Cafe and Company • Irons in the Fire • Jacobi’s on the Alley • Kahuna Grill • La Siesta Restaurant • Love Burger • McDonald’s • Mr. Pete’s Burgers • Mulligan’s Sports Bar • The Next Door • Nick’s San Clemente • OC Tavern Grill & Sports Bar • Pedro’s Tacos • Pier Shack and grill • Pipes Cafe • Rose’s Donuts and Café • Selma’s Chicago Pizzeria • The Shore • Shorecliffs Golf Course • The Signature Grille and Bar at Talega Golf Club • Sundried Tomato American Bistro • Surfin’ Donuts Coffeehouse & Grill • Vine • Tommy’s Family Restaurant & Coffee Shop 2009 WINNERS: Gold: Fatburger; Silver: Mr. Pete’s Burger
BEST TACO
9 STYLE SUSHI
102 Avenida Victoria, 949.366.3669
BEST SANDWICH BILLY’S MEAT, SEAFOOD & DELI 111 Avenida Del Mar, 949.498.5924, www.downtownsanclemente/billysmeats
This past June, owner, Bill Bradley celebrated his 20th anniversary as the owner of San Clemente’s favorite spot for sandwiches made with fresh, Boar’s Head meat, sliced-to-order, or chicken, tuna or egg salad. “Bill’s the best boss you could ever have,” said seven-year employee, Tina Logan, who any regular will recognize at the cashier. “He makes you feel like family.” —CS
Silver Ole
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1017 S. El Camino Real, 949.492.9182, www.biggiesburgers.com
NOMINEES: Akioni’s Catering • BeachFire Bar and Grill • The Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar • Ichibiri Japanese Restaurant • Sushi Gallery Miki • Miyako Sushi • Nobu Sushi • Ralphs • Sushi Sono Inc 2009 WINNERS: Gold: Taka-O Japanese Restaurant; Silver: 9 Style Sushi
Golden Ole
La Rocco’s “Pauly’s Special.” Photo byJasmine Smith
BIGGIES BURGERS & MORE
BOARD & BREW
979 Avenida Pico Unit C, 949.498.2739, www.boardnbrewsc.com
NOMINEES: Adele’s • A’s Burger • Bad to the Bone • Beach Garden Cafe • The BeachFire Bar and Grill • Biggie’s Burgers & More • Bread Gallery • Buonos Pizza & Pasta • Burger Junkies • Café Calypso • Café Mimosa • Café Rae • Captain Mauri’s • Cassano’s Pizza • Coffee Importers • Corky’s Family Restaurant • The Kultured Kitchen • Crispins Comfort Food Restaurant • Guicho’s Eatery • Hapa J’s • Hector’s Cake Shop and Bakery • Hulaville Island Cafe and Company • Humphry’s Sandwich Shop • Irons in the Fire • Italian Cravings • Jacobi’s on the Alley • Nick’s San Clemente • OC Tavern Grill & Sports Bar • Panera Bread • Piccadilly Delicatessen • Pier Shack & Grill • The Posh Peasant Tea Room & Cafe • Quiznos • La Rocco’s • Rose’s Donut Café • Sandwhich Buddies • S.C. Cafe • Selma’s Chicago Pizzeria • Shorecliffs Golf Course • Sonny’s Pizza & Pasta • Stillwater Cafe • Subway • Tina & Vince’s Italian Deli • The Cellar • The Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar • The Next Door • The Rider’s Club • The Shore • Village Mediterranean Rim 2009 WINNERS: Gold: Billy’s Meat, Seafood and Deli; Silver: Tina & Vince’s Italian Deli
Pedro’s popular fish taco. Photo by Jasmine Smith
Golden Ole
PEDRO’S TACOS
2313 S. El Camino Real, 949.498.5904; 550 N. El Camino Real, 949.498.5908; www.pedrostacos.com
Pedro’s Tacos has been serving up their famous fish tacos, among other items made with fresh produce, high quality tortillas and meats, special seasonings and unique recipes since 1986, when they became Orange County’s first fish taco stand. Their two family-owned San Clemente locations are favorites among surfers and the after-school crowd, but really, everybody loves Pedro’s. —CS
Silver Ole
AVILA’S EL RANCHITO
204 Avenida Del Mar, 949.498.5000, www.avilaselranchito.com
NOMINEES: Antoine’s Café • Baja Fresh • BeachFire Bar and Grill • Burger Stop • Café Del Sol • Chronic Tacos • Del Agave • Del Taco • Los Patios • El Jefe Cafe • El Mariachi Restaurant • El Patio Cafe • El Pollo Loco • The Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar • Hapa J’s • La Cocina de Ricardo • La Siesta Restaurant • La Tiendita • Los Patios • Mr. Pete’s Burger • Mulligan’s Sports Bar • Rubio’s Mexican Grill • Taco Bell • The Shore • Wahoo’s Fish Tacos 2009 WINNERS: Gold: Pedro’s Tacos; Silver: Avila’s El Ranchito
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