pacific pearl café in san juan capistrano is such a cozy little spot that's perfect for a relaxed…read morebreakfast or lunch. the atmosphere feels really warm and welcoming, and i loved that they even have a small play area for kids which makes it super family friendly. we tried a mix of drinks, pastries, and savory items and everything felt fresh and thoughtfully made. the salted caramel latte had the perfect balance of sweetness, and the banana matcha was smooth and a fun twist if you want something different. for pastries, the banana bread with cream on top was soft and comforting, the lemon cake had a nice bright flavor, and the pecan cookie was thick and satisfying. i also ordered their salad with locally sourced vegetables and seeds and it tasted really fresh and light. for something more filling, the reuben was stacked with meat and full of flavor, and the chicken caesar wrap in a spinach tortilla was lighter but still really good. the breakfast burrito with slow cooked carnitas was super flavorful and a great portion. overall, it's a great spot if you're looking for good food, solid drinks, and a comfortable place to hang out. i'd definitely come back!

I've been hearing so much about this place! Quite frankly, I had stopped by JD Flannel to get a GF…read moredonut, not realizing they were closed on Tuesdays. Then I remembered hearing about Pacific Pearl Café, so I decided to go over and check it out. I was so happy to see how many gluten-free options are offered! I ended up getting a smoked albacore tuna melt on gluten-free bread to go, along with a cinnamon roll, a cupcake, and a cookie. I also tried the salted caramel latte. The latte was good, but the next time I get it, I will ask for more syrup so I can taste the flavor more. But that sandwich??? Wow! Absolutely delicious! Incredibly flavorful, and everything in it just goes together perfectly! I'm so glad I only ate half of it today, because I cannot wait to eat the other half tomorrow! I had a very busy day, so I haven't gotten a chance to try any of the pastries yet. I really want to go back and try some of the breakfast items. The only reason I knocked one star off is because there's no bathroom. I would love to see this restaurant succeed and I really hope they will expand into a place that is bigger so they can accommodate more patrons eating in, and of course provide a bathroom.

If you want a snippet of France....this is the place!! Their offerings are literally AAA standard!…read more This place is awesome. Their coffee and bakery products of the highest standard in the area. Nothing comes even close. So head on over and enjoy their delicacies Staff is awesome and friendly. The couple who own this business are wonderful hosts, kind and very polite and friendly.

I needed a little snack on my lunch break and stumbled upon this bakery and decided to give it a…read moretry. Food: 2/5 There was a case filled with pastries and I decided to try the beef and potato as it looked popular based on its limited supply. There were no prices available so I assumed, the size it was, that the total would be around $7. However, this pastry was almost $14! I was disappointed by the price and lack of flavor inside. The pastry was buttery but not as flaky as I'd hoped for. Service: 3/5 Walking into the bakery I was glad to be welcomed inside and asked if I had any questions by a young lady. After deciding what I wanted to order I waited in line. The older gentleman at the register was not as friendly. I felt rushed when I was ordering and it felt as if he didn't want to be there. Ambiance: 3/5 The interior is very limited in space, especially when trying to line up to order. There were no tables available or space to wait for your take out order. Overall: 3/5 Overall the prices and service were disappointing to say the least.

Stacks is a staple in my life! I bring everyone here! And guess what? They FALL IN LOVE too! Their…read morechicken katsu moco loco 1000/10! I get it with their fried rice and a side of their spicy mayo trust me you cannot go around with that order they're gravy it's so perfected and just ties everything together. Another great plate from here is their spicy chicken waffle their waffle is nice and fluffy their chicken is nice and moist and again the spicy mayo is just the cherry on top. If you're looking for something sweet you cannot go wrong with the fruity pebbles French toast and their Ube pancakes. Their staff is always so sweet and accommodating and this is our go to every time someone New comes to visit.

OK if you're a big pancake or French toast fan you may love this place... However they've gone all…read moreRitz Carlton on us now. When you order and decide just a water( due to the $15.50 bacon , eggs , hash browns and get this toast an extra 4 dollars ( No BS ) so $ 20.50 ...they have it in a glass craft with ice that you pour at your table ...please ...the water/ice taste like it came out of a rotten garden hose...,so they now escort you to your table where there are no accouchements just a lovely fake flower. I figure this is so you're dependent on your server to bring you everything ketchup hot sauce etc. Now I don't want to dump on the staff as this is not their fault this is restaurant policy for sure . Staff 5 stars. Price negative 3 stars, Quality of food 2.5 stars. Another no BS review by J Bossco Oh and at least play some Hawaiian music.

One of the best restaurants in San Juan. Delicious food and high quality ingredients.read more

I was curious what was special about this place and tried the chicken bowl…read more Things I liked: Edamame hummus: tasted fresh and slightly nutty, interesting new taste Chicken: not too fatty, pairs well with their Thai sauce (which is a lighter version of Thai sweet chili sauce) Oats and black rice: nice carb base, doesn't stand out but plays well with other ingredients Jammy egg: I would highly recommend this, light with a good balance of sweet and salty Things which were okay: Corn: it goes well with the bowl but doesn't standout by itself Sweet potatoes: same as corn Things which can be improved: Broccoli: it's charred broccoli and tastes slightly bitter. I don't think it goes well with the bowl. I'd rather have steamed broccoli or less charred broccoli with a fat like mayo or cheese based sauce Bok choy: this also doesn't go well as ginger overwhelms your palette and it takes a while to reset and taste things normally. I'd suggest changing it to soy bok choy sautéed in sesame oil. Combined with nomnivore rewards, it's still surprisingly great value for money (sweetgreen value territory or even better).

I have been eyeing these big puffy English muffins for the longest time. I was making a trip back…read morefrom Carlsbad and decides to pick some up on the way home. Scratch Bakery Cafe is located in a big plaza with Trader Joe. There are many people outside sitting and eating. You order up front and pay before getting a table. Right when you walk in, there are tons of bags filled with English Muffins, however, they are called Manna buns for trademark reasons. The Manna buns come in plain, sesame, and everything seasonings. I ended up going with plain. The bun is super yummy. I made eggs and avocado sandwich with the bun and couldn't wait to eat them every day. They are pretty big, so I only eat half. They also sell bakery items. I got an oatmeal chocolate chip cookies that was delicious and a Banana's Foster Knock Knock. I absolutely love this and so happy the lady suggested it. It was like an upgraded ding dong but like a banana nut cake and chocolate. Overall, if you're looking for English muffins or some sweet this is definitely your place to try.

Best baked goods this side of the Toro Exit. Free parking, close to REI, Trader Joe's, and the…read morecoffee smells fresh enough that I think they roast it. Coffee's good... whatever it is. Service? Not so much. Pretty sure I walked in between shifts because they straight-up forgot my order. Inside layout is confusing, like a café designed by someone who's only heard rumors about chairs. Outside seating is great though -- very SoCal. Fresh cannolis? Drum roll... absolutely not- at least not during this visit. If they had them, this would be a 5‑star review. I'm writing a letter to my ma about this injustice. I can't wait to come back and try more goodies.

This place is awesome. I have come a few times now to study or just to enjoy a nice day out. The…read morecoffee is always amazing and well priced. The workers are super nice and helpful when you don't know exactly what you want. They check on you while you enjoy your coffee and make sure everything came out okay. The shop has indoor and outside seating making it perfect for dates or get togethers. The music was also perfect and was a good mix of throwbacks and current pop music.

This place is amazing, it's my first time here, and it's already become my new favorite spot. The…read morestaff are incredibly kind, the service is fast, on top of that the coffee and food is a 10 out of 10.

This place was poppin'! I walked in to a full house at 9:30am, the bar and tables were full, and…read morethe crowd was friendly. The man who helped me was super nice. I ordered a raspberry jelly doughnut, and a Bavarian cream doughnut (my favorites). When I tell you that these were the fullest filled donuts I've ever eaten in my life, I'm not exaggerating. Very generous on the filling. I would definitely come back here!

I'm not sure why this place has such stellar reviews. We came on a Friday morning at 9, and the…read moredonuts we got were stale- I'm pretty sure they were day old donuts that we paid full price for. Further, we got 4 donuts and 1 burrito and it was $40- that is crazy. The man helping us acted as though he hated his job. Ambiance is... interesting. Walls, tables and chairs are dirty. Lots of American flags- very MAGA.

Cibo Eccellente!!! Which in Italian means Excellent Food!!!…read more WOW! This hidden jem bistro serves real authentic Italian cuisine that will transport to Italy. Located in Laguna Hills on Cabot Road between Crown Valley and Oso Parkways, Mangi Con Amore is hands down the BEST place for real Italian food. Owner Michelle makes everything from scratch, including the pizza dough and pastas. She cooks everything to order, which you will immediately realize after your first bite. The Caprese Salad was so good! The fresh mozzarella was just that... fresh, unlike what you get at other places. The tomatoes, basil, and right amount of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and black pepper make this a great appetizer. The Spinach Ricotta Ravioli was so tasty, especially since it was literally made to order! Filled with creamy ricotta, fresh spinach, parmesan and romano cheeses and perfectly seasoned. You can select from 5 different sauces, the Arrabiata sauce was devine! The Meat Lasagna Bolognese is the bomb! Best I've ever had. Filled with premium ground beef, perfectly seasoned and layered with cheese and covered with the house made marinara sauce, and topped with parmesan cheese. Trust me, if you can't finish it, it makes a great lunch leftover! The Garlic Bread is made to order with homemade garlic butter and is served HOT. And finally, the Cannoli's were AMAZING! These are also made to order, as I saw Michelle filling them before she served them. All the food is served hot and with a smile from owner Michelle, who is truly amazing and very friendly. She prides herself on using only the freshest ingredients and staying true to the family recipes. Stop in for lunch, dinner, or take out. You won't be disappointed. Arrivederci!

Everything for years was amazing! The wonderful owners came to CA from Bologna Italy and literally…read morebrought that towns recipes (now theirs too) along with them! Their signature dish, a large pan Lasagna will bring you back for more! Great Pizza too, in several varieties, Cheese& Pepperoni like no other! GREAT MENU, always happy to prepare it fresh and ready to go home with you, or have it there! Highly recommended, for sure! Don E Ward / Laguna Niguel, CA

Looks like I'm not the only one who has posted repeat reviews, addendums, or reiterated praise. I'm…read morein along with frequent donut flyers who are reeled in to JD's in SJC. From fly fishing and flannel to delectably delicious donuts, these two guys have us hooked. Why? And donuts ?? Go. When you go, you'll know. When I see a crowd and a line, I want to be queued in! Especially when it's an eatery that's no more than maybe 20 feet across. Like a foodie lemming, dive in to these small batch, freshly-made gems that are non-pariel in the donut industry. Go. You'll know. Eat. You'll repeat.

I'm always on the hunt for the best donut around, and after seeing that JD Flannel's was rated one…read moreof the top donut shops in Orange County, I had to check it out. We stopped by on a Friday morning to grab a few donuts, and the experience was great from the start. The workers were fun, energetic, and super helpful. Nice clean and modern shop with a wall of donuts We couldn't decide what to order, but another customer told us we *had* to try the apple fritter and wow, they were right. That apple fritter was SO good, fresh, warm, perfectly soft, and not overly sweet. Honestly, perfection. We grabbed a few other donuts too, and while most were great, one tasted like it may have been sitting out a bit longer and wasn't nearly as good. So my advice: go early and get them fresh because that's when these donuts really shine. If you're in the area and craving fresh donuts, definitely check them out!

Fantastic food and drinks -- just plan ahead on busy mornings…read more Pandor Artisan Bakery and Café is a true local gem, especially if you love well-made drinks, crepes, and pastries done right. We visited on a Saturday morning around 9:30am, and while the place was very busy and lively, it's easy to see why it's so popular. Drinks: The honey lavender latte was excellent -- smooth, lightly floral, and not overly sweet. The Nutella cortado is also a standout and a great choice if you like something rich but balanced. Food: The chicken and mushroom crepe had great flavor and was very satisfying. The Romeo and Juliette crepe was absolutely delicious and easily one of the highlights of the visit. Pastries: The almond croissant and peach danish were my favorites -- flaky, fresh, and exactly what you hope for at a bakery like this. Because it was a peak Saturday morning, there was about a 15-minute wait to find a table, and ordering took another 20 minutes. My food came out fairly quickly, but my husband's order was unfortunately missed and didn't arrive until about 40 minutes later. That said, the woman running the place was an absolute sweetheart -- incredibly kind, apologetic, and genuinely attentive. She even offered us a free dessert to make up for the delay, which we really appreciated. The rest of the staff was also friendly and helpful despite how crowded it was. The space does get noisy when it's full, so it's not the most relaxing dine-in experience during peak hours. My advice: order online and take it to go -- this would be perfect for a picnic or a relaxed breakfast elsewhere. The food and drinks are absolutely worth it, and with a little planning, you'll have a great experience.

Great place for cup of coffee with some tasty pastry in neighborhood!…read more Highly recommended. Polite staff, quality products and nice environment.