Vol. 4, Issue 34, August 20-26, 2009



By Angela Smith and Jacqueline DeMarco

San Clemente Times



Check out these 73 great offers from San Clemente restaurants offering dining and drink specials



Getting a good meal for a decent buck has never been easier. As local restaurant owners seek new ways to incentivize customers to dine in their establishment, specials offers abound. As San Clemente’s dining out scene has expanded, so have the opportunities to sample new flavors and spots, and the abundance of specials is even more reason to stay and dine locally.



Lynn Wood has been running the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce for more than 20 years—so many, in fact, that she admits to having stopped counting. But in all those years, she can’t recall a period of economic stress the likes of which the current recession has wrought. “The recession 10 years ago was bad but nothing like this,” said Wood, the chief executive officer and president of the Chamber. “There’s never been a worse time than this.”



Wood has noticed how local business owners are working harder to keep customers shopping locally, and the Chamber has started programs itself to try to help. In May it partnered with the city to launch “Shop and Dine—Keep San Clemente Green,” a program aimed at encouraging locals to stay local to eat and shop.



“Green as in money green,” said Wood of the slogan’s play on words. “Basically we’re trying to keep the funds working in our town.”



The more people are out spending money at local restaurants and shops, the more likely it is that your favorite business will make it through the most difficult economic period in memory. To assist local diners, the SC Times has assembled this list of “Steals & Deals,” but we’re sure there are a few we missed. If you know of a great deal and want to have it included in our list, e-mail us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com and write “Steals and Deals” in the subject line.



—Norb Garrett contributed to this story.



FOR THE A.M.



Aloha Coffee Hut: $2 off any pound of coffee, $1 off blended coffee drinks. (949.492.5447)

Blue Danube: Sunday 10 a.m.–3 p.m. $4.95 - $12.95 Sunday brunch. (949.218.5186; www.bluedanubeoc.com)

Captain Mauri’s: Coffee and hot tea, 99 cents in the morning. (949.498.8098)

Corky’s: Three breakfast tacos $8.95, Eggs Benedict $9.45 and rewards for good (or improving) grades. (949.492.1135)

Donut House: Coffee and doughnuts for students, teachers, church members, military and senior citizens. One dozen for $7.50; get 10 dozen for $6.50 each. Whole pot of coffee available for $3. (949.492.9567)

Frugart: Breakfast sandwich $3.50. (949.498.8949)

Antoine’s Café: Commuter Specials under $5 every day. Includes choice of egg sandwich, breakfast burrito, sunrise bagel and more. (949.492.1763; www.antoinescafe.com)

Shorecliffs Golf Club: Birdie Special featuring eggs, bacon and pancakes for $4, or breakfast burrito for $4.

NOONTIME



Captain Mauri’s: Half sandwich with soup, salad or potato salad for $6.25. (949.498.8098)

Carbonara’s: Full service lunch with a salad included starting at $5.95. (949.366.5924; www.carbonara.com)

La Cocina de Ricardo: Daily lunch special: one item for $4.59 with a drink and chips and salsa. (949.498.7808)

Frugart: Cold cut special for $4.99. (949.498.8949)

Hapa J’s: Southside Bowl just $4.99 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Choice of Shoyu Chicken, Shaken Beef, Teri Beef or Chicken Katsu served on top of white or brown rice with macaroni salad. (949.276.6657; www.hapajs.com)

Italian Cravings Pizzeria: Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., $6.95 includes choice of one of 17 entrees, salad or soup, and a soft drink. (949.498.5156)

Mongkut Thai: Lunch specials with soup or salad and rice from $6.99-$8.59, 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. (949.492.3871; www.downtownsanclemente.com/mongkutthai)

Romance Latin Restaurant: $6.95 lunch specials: three fish tacos, three rib eye tacos, torta cubana and more. (949.388.7766; www.romancelatinrestaurant.com)

S.C. Café: $2 beers Monday-Friday during lunch. (949.366.0626)

Sonny’s Pizza & Pasta: Plate of spaghetti with meat sauce, salad and garlic bread for just $6.99. (949.498.2540; www.sonnys.com)

Taka-O: Sushi, hand rolls, California rolls and tuna rolls $3.50, chicken or salmon teriyaki with a California roll $8.95, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Monday-Saturday. (949.498.7111; www.taka-orestaurant.com)

Z Pizza: Lunch specials $5.50-$9.75. Eight different choices or combinations with a drink. (949.498.3505; www.zpizza.com)



DINNER SPECIALS



Billy’s Deli: King crab legs and claws, $9.99 lb. (949.498.5924)

Gordon James: $10 menu Sunday through Thursday in the dining room or lounge. $10 menu also features discounted glasses of wine to pair with each dish. For dine-in only. (949. 498.9100)

La Cocina de Ricardo: Kids eat free with purchase of entrée from 1:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m. on weekends. (949.498.7808)

Ichibiri’s: 50% off regular menu, buy one, get one half off. One meal free when buying three from Monday-Sunday during dinner. (949.361.0137)

Iva Lee’s: Three-course dinner for $25, 5 p.m.–9 p.m. on Tuesday-Thursday and 5 p.m.–10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $14 two-course dinner Tuesday-Saturday 5 p.m.–6 p.m. (949.361.2855; www.ivalees.com)

Knuckleheads: Early bird specials every Monday to Friday from 3 p.m.–7 p.m. (949.492.2410)

Nutty Hawaiian: Two hot dogs for $5. (949.542.8480)

Talega Golf Club: Friday Night Dinners features $10 Prime Rib, $12 All-You-Can-Eat Louisiana Shrimp and $20 New England Clam Bake. Begins September 1. (949.369.6226; www.talegagolfclub.com)

Vine: $40 pre-fixed menu Tuesday-Thursday. (949.361.2079; www.vinesanclemente.com)



SWEET TREATS



Aloha Coffee Hut: $1 off blended coffee drinks and smoothies. (949.492.5447)

Baskin-Robbins: $1 scoop night every Tuesday from 6 p.m. until closing. (949.492.2440)

Frugart: Happy hour yogurt on Tuesday, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., self serve only 29 cents per ounce. (949.498.8949)

Juice It Up: Tuesdays buy two 24-oz drinks and get 2 16-oz drinks for free. (949.542.7979 or 949.388.7999; www.juiceitup.com)

Nutty Hawaiian: Buy one shaved ice and get $3 off the second one. (949.542.8480)

Velvet Yogurt: Half off every Friday from 3 p.m.–5 p.m. (949.276.4625; www.velvetyogurt.com)



PIZZA



Cassano’s Pizza: Six-topping pizza $4 off. (949.361.0522)

Cucina Pizzeria: Medium pizza for $6.95. Fun pack soda, salad and dessert, $25.95. (949.481.4777)

Surfside Pizza: Free pizza at halftime of any NFL game, Trojans/Rams, with any purchase of bottled beer. Two large pizzas with one topping, $21.95 all day, every day.  (949.498.3400)



IT WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY HOUR



Adele’s: $4 cheeseburger and fries, $2 drafts, $5 pitchers and $1 off well drinks, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Monday–Tuesday; 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Wednesday–Friday. (949.366.1121; www.adelescafe.com)

Agostinos: $10 entrees, $4 drinks and $5 martinis every happy hour Tuesday-Friday from 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

Avila’s El Ranchito: $3 margaritas, domestic beers, well drinks; $3 tacos, nachos, quesadillas (with purchase of drinks including non-alcoholic). 3 p.m.–6 p.m. Monday-Friday. (949.498.5000; www.avilaselranchito.net)

Blue Danube: Free appetizers, discounted drinks and buy one, get one half off 4 p.m.–7 p.m. daily. (949.218.5186; bluedanubeoc.com/bluedanube)

Goody’s Tavern: Well drinks $3, domestic pitcher $6, domestic shorties $1.50, Noon-7 p.m. daily. (949.492.3400; www.goodystavern.com)

Fisherman’s: Happy Hour every Monday-Friday from 4 p.m.–7 p.m.; $3 food with any beverage. Different dinner and drink specials each night. (949.498.6390; www.fishermans.com)

Irons in the Fire: Happy Hour for locals all night every Wednesday with discounted food and drinks. (949.542.3900; www.beachfire.com)

El Mariachi: Happy Hour, 2 p.m.–6 p.m. (949.369.5111)

Ole’s Tavern: Drink specials, 8 p.m.-close, daily. (949.498.9400; www.olestavern.com)

Romance Latin Restaurant: 50% off on all appetizers and $4 sangria, 5 p.m.–7 p.m., Monday-Friday. (949.388.7766)

San Clemente Wine Company: Weekly "Featured Winery" tasting includes 7 wines for $15 Thursday to Sunday. On Friday nights, cheese, crackers and chocolate is included. Plus, 50% off tastings Monday-Wednesday. (949.429.7067; www.scwinecompany.com)

Sea Smoke: $2 draft beer and hot sake Tuesdays–Saturday 5 p.m.–6:30 p.m. (949.276.5707)

Selma’s Pizzeria: Draft pints $3, big pitchers $9.75 and $5 appetizers, 3 p.m.–5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. (949.276.2828; www.selmaschicagopizzeria.com)

Sundried Tomato Café: Martini Madness martinis $6, house wines $5, $4 well drinks, 2 p.m.–6 p.m. Sunday–Wednesday. (949.388.5757; www.sundriedtomatocafe.com)

Talega Golf Club: All-You-Can Eat Happy Hour buffet just $8 adults, $4 kids from 3:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m. Monday–Thursday, 3:30 p.m. to end of game for Monday Night Football. Also $2 draft beers, $3 well drinks, $4 house wine and $5 martinis and margaritas. (949.369.6226; www.talegagolfclub.com)

Vine: $14 Kobe Burger and glass of Cabernet 50% off; 50% off select wines by the glass, 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. Tuesday–Friday. (949.361.2079; www.vinesanclemente.com)



SUNDAY SPECIALS



Juice It Up: Sunday is Stimulus Smoothie Day; buy one, get one half off. (949.542.7979 or 949.388.7999; www.juiceitup.com)

Z Pizza: Buy one slice, get one free, 1 p.m.–4 p.m. (949.498.3505; www.zpizza.com)



MONDAY SPECIALS



Beach Fire: Monday Mojito Madness, happy hour all night, half-priced bottles of wine, $5 mojitos in the lounge. Select bottles of wine are half price with a dinner entrée in the dining room. (949.366.3232; www.beachfire.com)

Los Patios: Margarita Monday, $3 margaritas and food specials. (949.492.0162; www.lospatios.com)

Mulligan’s: 75-cent tostadas and drink specials. (949.492.4400)

Juice It Up: Monday Madness, 50% off 24 oz. or 32 oz. drink. (949.542.7979 or 949.388.7999; www.juiceitup.com)

Sonny’s: Spaghetti with meat sauce or marinara sauce with garlic bread $5.99, add a salad for another $1. (949.498.2540; www.sonnys.com)



TACO TUESDAY



Beach Hut: $1.50 tacos and $3.50 margaritas. (949.940.0048)

La Cocina de Ricardo: $1.50 Taco Tuesday, kids’ tacos 99 cents. (949.498.7808)

Chronic Tacos: $2 meat tacos and $2.50 fish tacos. (949.492.8437; www.eatchronictacos.com)

Las Golondrinas: All tacos are half priced. (949.240.9011; www.lasgolondrinas.biz)

Los Patios: $1 tacos and drink specials. (949.492.0162; www.lospatios.com)

Mulligan’s: 50-cent tacos and drink specials. (949.492.4400)

Ole’s Tavern: $1 tacos, $2.50 tecates and $3 margaritas. (949.498.9400; www.olestavern.com)



WEDNESDAY SPECIALS



Courtside Restaurant: Burger Night Wednesday night $6.99 with all the fixings and extras, half-pound hamburger or cheeseburger, from 5 p.m.–9 p.m. (949.492.1516; www.courtsidecateringsc.com)

Mulligan’s: 75-cent tostadas and drink specials. (949.492.4400)

Sonny’s: Lasagna with garlic bread $8.95, add a salad for another $1. (949.498.2540; www.sonnys.com)



THURSDAY SPECIALS



Adele’s Café: Fish tacos $2.75 each. (949.366.1121; www.adelescafe.com)

Beach Hut: $14.95 prime rib with a side of veggies and mashed potatoes, 6 p.m.–close. (949.940.0048)

Juice It Up: Thursday 24 oz for $3.35 and 32 oz for $4.35 (949.542.7979 or 949.388.7999; www.juiceitup.com)



FRIDAY SPECIALS



Juice It Up: Two free boosts all day. (949.542.7979 or 949.388.7999; www.juiceitup.com)



SATURDAY SPECIALS



Mulligan’s: 50-cent beer, 6 p.m.-close. (949.492.4400)



SEND US YOUR DEALS Despite all best efforts to gather a complete list of great deals in town, there are, no doubt, some we missed. If you’ve got a deal you want posted, send it to us and we’ll add it to the online list which we’ll keep up on Local Links at www.sanclementetimes.com. Send us your item to editorial@sanclementetimes.com and write “Steals and Deals” in the Subject line.



Zagat Diner Poll



Zagat Survey conducts regular patron polling of the restaurant industry. Below are the results of recent polling asking diners how the recession has impacted their spending habits while eating out.



What effect has the economy had on your dining out habits?

More attentive to prices: 36 percent

Eating out less: 36 percent

Eat in less expensive places: 31 percent

Skip appetizers and/or dessert: 20 percent

Cut back on alcohol: 17 percent

Go to pricey places for lunch: 9 percent

No effect on my habits: 30 percent

Other: 2 percent