Cafe Rae is an unassuming gem of San Clemente. The exterior, and for that matter, the exterior, are simple and ambiguous which can fool those more impressed by the cover of the book and not the contents. Once you see and taste the diverse offerings you'll understand that the owner and cook may be the closest we have here in San Clemente to a culinary genius. There is the menu which offers the normal fare, but I encourage those seeking a higher elevation of eating to look to the "Daily Specials" on the chalkboard where the cook applies his creativity. For example, today for breakfast the Daily Specials offered: "Pastrami Omelet", a "Chorizo Breakfast sandwich", something else I have forgotten, and always a variety of pancakes and stuffed french toasts. Each one of these are paired together with ingredients that reveals the cook's appreciation for his craft. If I had to knock something it would be the coffee - pretty industrial restaurant coffee. read more

I wish I could give this place 6 stars! The Owner and Chef Terry puts 100% into every dish and the atmosphere here makes you want to come back again tomorrow. Cool vibes, great food, and options for all types: Meat-Eaters, Vegetarians, and Vegans. Try the Huevos Rancheros, the Stuffed French Toast, the Cafe Rae Salad, the Brisket Melt, or anything on the Weekly Specials board!! read more

I write all positive reviews, and something has to be SUPER horrible for me to call out a restaurant. For the first time in my life, I left a restaurant without leaving a tip. THE WORST SERVICE I'VE EVER HAD! Our waitress and the staff didn't smile once! That should have been my first sign when we were greeted without a smile. Was it because we were the only ones with kids? Hmmmm I was charged for food I had to send back (because it was awful). The reason I was charged you ask... because she saw my daughter take a bite of it. Duh lady... How else would I know it tasted like a tortilla filled with Doo Doo. Then she had the balls to say 'its only an extra $10'. After asking for a manger, it was removed. With so many awesome places to eat, choose somewhere else. Peace out Cafe Rae. Learn how to treat your customers. read more

Far & away one of the best breakfasts we have ever shared. Came here on Valentine's Day and while busy the service was really really good. All staff are extremely friendly greeting you with a smile and warm conversation. The food is phenomenal. My wife and I split a build your own omelette and added a single pancake. The omelette was fluffy cooked perfectly, not overdone and the ingredients were extremely fresh. Now I mention the pancake. Their idea of a pancake is literally plate sized, it is huge. We added fresh strawberries to ours, and that could've been a meal in itself. Though we were only visiting, I would make it a point to eat here. It's worth going out of your way to get to and the prices are very reasonable for the amount of delicious food that you get. read more

Cafe Rae - Less than half of the food that was my share of the meal split with my wife. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Clemente, California

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A nice hippie joint with fantastic food and friendly staff. They have tasty vegetarian and vegan options! read more

Ate here yesterday because they had vegan options. The vegan burrito was huge, but it wasnt anything special and kind of lacked flavor. I also found hair in my burrito. My boyfriend did say their beefsteak cheese melt was good, but we won't be back. read more

Been coming here for years. Best breakfast spot in south OC. Great food, great prices, great people. The specials are simply amazing, pesto hoagie, huevos rancheros, and pancakes are sublime. Whether you are passing through SC or not you have to come try it. read more

Great food , great service. Huevos rancheros were very good. Parking is impossible.

HORRIBLE SERVICE!!! The manager cut me off and made me feel stupid for asking a question!! Super unprofessional!

Had a Family brunch over the weekend there. Should have called ahead, not a lot of seating if you have a big group. But great spot for a couple or a few friends(3-4) The soups are killer. They let us try them all before picking one. The salsa (chimichurri) was so good I ask for 2 extra sides. The server knew everything bout the place and was really fun to talk to. He let me build my own burrito and let my picky grandmother-in-law design her own sandwich. Very accommodating! Didn't know it was healthier choice until they told me how it was made, tasted great not like "health food" They also sell trail mix or oat meal dry there that looked really good. I would eat there again. read more

Cafe Rae - Happy little family place to eat. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Clemente, California

amazing food. wonderful waiter!! beautiful colors and every band backstage pass framed for your enjoyment. life is good

Had a beautiful and delicious breakfast from this little cafe on a recent weekend getaway to San Clemente. Called in our order, walked half a mile from our hotel to the cafe and it was ready to go. Their stuffed French toast was amazing and having it crisped was a special treat. The omelets were so good and filling. read more

This is my go-to spot for breakfast in San Clemente. The servers are always uber friendly, and the food can't be beat. Always have interesting daily specials, and the owner is a really cool guy as well. read more

This is the worst restaurant in San Clemente. Their service is absolutely horrible! Barely anyone in the restaurant and they took 30 mins for the two lazy servers to come to our table. The food tasted like it was prepared by an inexperienced teenager. Total waste of time. read more

Had lunch with my friend today, it was absolutely perfect... the server is the sweetest, met Terry the owner... my first , definitely not the last visit!! read more

Cafe Rae - Amazing!!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Clemente, California

We come here everyday Sunday- hands down the best breakfast in San Clemente! Always fresh and always very good. I had breakfast last weekend at Antiones because they advertise "best breakfast is San Clemente" had the verde omelet- no way is it better than Cafe Rae. It was flavorless and cold when it came and the staff was rude and super slow, regret cheating on my breakfast spot. For the best breakfast its Cafe Rae!! read more

I was visiting friends in San Clemente so I left it up to them as to where we should eat. They told me that Cafe Rae was good, a small place, funky and we had to go early since parking was limited. We went twice-the first time we were seated shortly after arrival and the second time, we were placed on a list to sit down when a table became available. After being seated, we took a look at the menu which was extensive. After our coffee arrived, we decided to order. I ended up getting a BLT with mayo on whole grain bread toasted the first time and the second time we went, I got the same thing but with sourdough bread toasted. [It was great!] There are many options with anything you order. My friends both ordered the short stack of pancakes with bacon on the side. Maple syrup is $1 extra. The pancakes were so big that they overlapped the plate they came in. The service [we had the same waitress both times] and she was attentive and accommodating. Separate checks was not a problem. Both BLT's were delicious and I would recommend and return. read more

I have been in San Clemente for 10 years now and having Cafe Rae makes San Clemente just a little bit better. This is not only my favorite restaurant in San Clemente. It's my favorite restaurant. Every dish is good. When someone asks me to recommend a dish my answer is always the same: everything. Terry, the owner and head chef, used to cook for the Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen. Everything he makes is good. If you like good food you'll like Cafe Rae. My favorite dish used to be his breakfast ciabatta sandwich. But I have been dieting lately, so my new favorite is the Mediterranean Caesar. And I always get the lentil soup. My boys love the croissant breakfast sandwich. And my wife love's their new veggie/vegan menu. Also, they are now open Friday nights for dinner with a special menu, including amazing ribs (which I had last night). Besides the food, Cafe Rae has a nice ambiance. Terry's wife is an artist. The artwork and clothing items on the wall are her work. The wait staff is professional and courteous. And finally, I know this is minor, but the bathrooms are always clean, stocked and smell nice. In short, Terry isn't just a great chef, he's a great a restaurateur. read more

If you're looking for a healthy and delicious place for breakfast or lunch then look no further. Cafe Rae is absolutely perfect. It's conveniently located on El Camino and is easy enough to park at. My recommendation, get the stuffed french toast with strawberry and definitely get it crusted with cornflakes! It's the perfect sweet, tart and crunchy meal. Need something savory? Huevos Rancheros. It's huge and comes with a big glob of scratch salsa and guacamole. The interior is brightly colored with home made tie dye shirts and assorted clothing. The waitress was kind and attentive. The menu is massive and has something for everyone. read more

This small spot in San Clemente was great! Although the wait was about 20 minutes it was totally worth the wait! The atmosphere is very lay back and the food is delicious! We got the crusted french toast and the chorrizo black beans and corn omelette! We definitely recommend the crusted french toast! I left the plate completely clean lol. The orange juice was fresh and delicious. The price was very wallet friendly. . Definitely a great way to start your day before hitting the beach or casa romantica! read more

Everything on the menu is AMAZING!! As I write this my daughter's boyfriend is on the phone raving about the pancake he had. "Far and away the best pancake ever! it was like a sponge and just soaked up the syrup until it disappeared!". The strawberry and cream cheese stuffed French toast was a huge portion and with a frosted flake crunch on the outside and warm gooey deliciousness inside is to die for!!! ))) My wife had a chicken cheesesteak and all ingredients were cooked to perfection and assembled in excellent fashion. This is definitely a place to come back to. Again and again!! read more

Epic FAIL for Mother's Day We have been regulars here for years and have mostly enjoyed really good food and service. So when my mom came all the way from AZ just to go here we were excited to visit again. Unfortunately, the owner hired two unbelievably inept people to run the front of the house. These two girls did everything they possibly could to screw things up. It started when one of them dictated exactly where we could sit and was extremely rude about it. Then, they proceeded to give us other peoples' drinks. After that, they gave us each other's omelets and after using ketchup on mine, found out that it was actually my mom's meal. She doesn't like ketchup so her meal was ruined. They never came by to refill anything until the bill was paid and we were ready to leave. Beyond the front of the house screw ups, the food was just ok - Truly a dumb and dumber type of experience as these girls made excuses for their poor service to everyone who entered the restaurant and it wasn't even that busy. They also continued to reseat guests after they got settled in and had menus even though there were no other customers waiting. The people sitting next to us had their orders mixed up as well and got the wrong things. It's time to try some new places in town and San Clemente is full of them. If you have guests visiting, don't bring them here. read more

More than a diner: it's the place where everybody knows your name, where the waitress pulls up a chair and takes your order, and the owner comes out from behind the grill and drops by to say hello. Most importantly, it's a place that actually serves challah as a bread option (as though there could be any other option when challah is available). Frankly, I hesitate to post a review, because I go there all the time and don't want all of you noobs seated ahead of me. This is my go-to lunch spot, so, do me a favor: if you run into me there, just remember who introduced you to Cafe Rae and maybe let me get my order in before you and your party of six work Terry in the kitchen to the point of collapse. Thank you. Be sure to check the specials menu on the wall; it changes weekly. (They also helpfully post it on their web site.) Sure, I wish the interior were larger, the chairs a little more comfortable, and the parking lot suitable for vehicles larger than skateboards... but hey, it's all part of the character. It's quiet, it's friendly, and the food is terrific. Did I mention the challah? read more

Best breakfast spot in South OC! Everything is good. Place is small, service is friendly. Omelettes are stuffed with ingredients, potatoes are great, salsa is amazing (they do charge) Pancakes as big as your plate! Vegan options which is rare. read more

First time in San Clementine and heard good things about Cafe Rae @caferaesanclemente #CafeRaeSanClementine - Ordered the Brisket Omelette which was reasonably priced and good portions. Definitely recommend if your in the area and want some solid breakfast grub #FoodPorn #FoodCritic #BreakfastBites #bassthov3nphoto #bassthov3ntravels Give it an 8 out of 10 read more

Delicious food, amazing staff. You won't be bummed. Secret SC spot, don't tell anyone

I was looking for a place halfway between Huntington Beach and Carlsbad to meet family for brunch, and this came up on Yelp. The cafe is small and there was only one waiter who did a fantastic job considering business was pretty brisk. Food was delicious and our little group of 3 really enjoyed the food and the space. They take card but ask customers to pay with cash if they can. read more

We hired Don Plaut/ Cafe Rae to cater a wedding reception recently. The food was exceptional and the overall quality of the catering was a five out of five. Been in Café Rae for breakfast many times and it's always delicious. Thanks Terry and company. read more

This place is the Rae Charles of Cafes. Me and my mother had an exceptional time. I plowed down some Huevos Rancheros while my mother demolished some French Toast. High recommend this place to anyone trying to chow dank. read more

Cafe Rae - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Clemente, California

So I really like their food the chicken burrito it's great but let me tell you about the lemonade it looked fresh but it tasted like powered lemonade and had a smell like a lemon urinal screen. read more

Met old friends halfway and found this joint online. Greeted, seated, and had a wonderful breakfast. Everybody enjoyed their meal and service was great with attentiveness. Best omelettes! Would definitely go back. read more

Love it here! Small, great food, local feels. I always have to get a side of the filled French toast to go along with my main dish Will be back, need to try more! read more

Omg this place blew my mind with everything about it. We waited about 5mjn to be seated and there were only three tables being used. After I let her know we are standing there she waves me over as in "why are you just standing there" ummm the sign says WAIT TO BE SEATED! Now let's talk about the actual place. It is hot and stuffy with cluttered walls and tables. The food was also disappointing... the pancakes were DRY and crumbly NOT fluffy as it says on the menu (mind you K was there for pancakes) I had asked for maple syrup but instead regular tables syrup was brought to me; when I asked for maple syrup the waitress makes it a point to say " well the maple syrup is extra" to which I replied that it was OK I wanted maple syrup she goes and makes it a point to then let me know again "OK but just letting you know if extra" ummm yea I got that lol. We sent the pancakes back because my husband didn't like them either. They still put them on or check the reason being was that we had eight some of it...ummm how am I going to know I don't like it if I don't try it? She goes and talks to her manager then the manager send her back to tell us that he will take them off but he would not take them off next time I normally wouldn't take them off because Sam had been eating lol. The bacon didn't have any crispiness whatsoever. I believe that they were baked so expect thick tough bacon. They couldn't even get fresh fruit right. Because we were served damn near rotten watermelon along with tasteless honeydew. Warm OJ gotta love that... The eggs and home fries were excellent read more

My friend and I came to Cafe Rae in search of a good breakfast to start off our Saturday morning in San Clemente. Right off the main strip of El Camino sits this small colorful little restaurant that serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner on Friday/Saturday evenings. They don't have a very large dining area inside that can really accommodate large groups and their tables set for two are very small ( http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe-rae-san-clemente?select=Go_OvApedM0zHzsfvSwm3A#UH9r6KwNRg80_fLyXxQ_0w). They are so small it makes it quite hard to stack your plates correctly and your drinks. The coffee is what started my meal off here, and it tasted freshly delicious. I asked the server whose coffee they use but she never got back to me about it. Their menu is quite a good size, they offer all kinds of different breakfast options from omelettes, pancakes, french toast and egg combos. But for me, I'm always in the mood for some pancakes on the weekend. According to their menu, they make their pancakes from their own recipe from scratch every morning. They allow all kinds of add-ins like fruit, nuts and chocolate chips but I decided for regular ole plain pancakes. A short stack is what I got and it runs you about 6 dollars, its two massive pancakes (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe-rae-san-clemente?select=Go_OvApedM0zHzsfvSwm3A#p-fDItUZLkMRJgXmKp4nRg ). They were so large I couldn't expect many people are able to finish a full stack. I also received some eggs and pinto beans on the side (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe-rae-san-clemente?select=Go_OvApedM0zHzsfvSwm3A#znFuKIzrn9Mgk3YTVZZvIA ). The scrambled eggs were cooked great but my favorite side was the homemade pinto beans, they are made on site and have lots of flavor to them. The pancakes served here are deliciously fluffy thick cakes (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe-rae-san-clemente?select=Go_OvApedM0zHzsfvSwm3A#s6sgbKFJfjDSvCIi3fJcKQ ) that can easily satisfy your hot cake craving. My friend ordered a custom omelette (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/cafe-rae-san-clemente?select=Go_OvApedM0zHzsfvSwm3A#Go_OvApedM0zHzsfvSwm3A ) with a side of fruit and beans. She enjoyed her dish as well and commented on how great the veggies tasted inside. The salsa ( ) that they served us on the side was fantastic, very spicy salsa that complimented the eggs and omelette very well. I wish they had brought more of that stuff. Cafe Rae served us a great breakfast with decent service. The only two things I would change about this place is being opened earlier on the weekends and perhaps maybe a little bit bigger tables to accommodate the condiments and the food plates. Prices were decent and breakfast here ran about $30 for two people with entrees and drinks. Rae was a great way to start off the weekend. read more

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Try a busting-through-the-seams with brisket omelet, challah toast, and an absolutely phenomenal chocolate chip/oatmeal/coconut cookie. Boom goes the dynamite. Try to ignore the feral child sleeping under a table. read more

I decided to try it one day since I was craving breakfast and I was close at the time. First off, The Waitress (younger than all the other staff) was excellent. She was very kind and I thought she did a great job. Cafe Rae was very bright and welcoming, The thing that I found strange was the crossing guard lady. There was a lady who worked there (I think?) that had on a crossing guard outfit. At first, I thought she was a customer talking to her friends, but then i realized that she worked there. I don't know if she was one of the owners or what not but it didn't work. The food was decent, nothing to come back to. The price is great for what you get. I thought it was a good amount of food, but the food could be better. the potatoes were burned! (still tasted good, lol) The waitress was the only thing that would make me come back but i doubt I will. Overall, The bright, colorful atmosphere was happy great and people seemed to know the staff and the other customers. The Crossing guard lady freaked me out a little, the service needs a little work as well. read more

Yay for Yelp because this place is awesome. It's true. The pancakes are Frisbee-sized and put the "cake" in "pancake". The bright walls and colorful flowers actually made me feel good about being awake in the morning (versus my much-preferred early afternoon). And, while "cozy" is usually apartment-speak for "closet-sized", Cafe Rae somehow made masterful use of their space. There was no feeling of sitting in someone else's lap and sharing my breakfast nor that awkward back-to-back chair hitting problem. But, above it all, eat those pancakes. read more

I would first like to start by saying that my experience at Cafe Rae completely contradicts all the negative reviews I saw on here so I will start with those. A. Food was fantastic, we went with 5 people and we were literally eating off of each others plates just to try what we all got. B. Service was great, you could tell that they were used to having a crowd of mainly regulars but we had all never been before and were treated like we had been going for years. C. Went with my 18 month old son and they brought him fruit and little things to snack on, this was a big ++. Ended the meal with a sample of some of their cookies. Met the owner and again food is fantastic. The only thing is I wish it was a little bigger but is has a very charming way to it.' Go and if you are dissapointed then you are crazy. read more

I wish I didn't live so far from this lil gem! Was in the area for work and wanted to find a good breakfast/brunch spot. Looked on yelp to see what was near by and found this! Its tucked in the back streets and parking is very limited but if you find it, STOP and get some yummy food! Owners are very sweet and friendly, you can definitely see they put some love into the place from decor to food. Has a bright so cal feel for sure. OK on to the important part, FOOD! We ordered a few things to share, bbq pulled pork omelet, huevos rancheros, and pumpkin french toast. Even though the portions were pretty big we finished it ALL. Omelet had the fluffiest eggs, the oooygooy smoked gouda and sweet tang of the pulled pork, AWESOME. it was kind of hard to share this one since I wanted to eat it all myself. Hevous Rancheros, no complainant there either, the house made salas defiantly made it for me, each bite with oozing egg yoke, guacamole and salsa and a little sour cream, damn I'm hungry again. Last was our pumpkin french toast, almost treated it like desert not to sweet didn't even need syrup, it was pretty light but full of flavor. Will definitely make the effort to come back. read more

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I hadn't read Cafe Rae's reviews before having breakfast there yesterday, but my impression of the place seems consistent with most of them. The food was pretty good, but the service was not-- more-so, the attitude of the woman who took our order. (Full disclosure) I'm picky about salsa. (/end Full disclosure) I asked if I could get the salsa on the side instead of inside my breakfast burrito. She gave the impression that this was a tall order. She didn't necessarily argue, but asked me to clarify the obvious request and left a brief awkwardness at the table. Everyone's food came, as ordered, and I'm glad I got the salsa on the side. I'm not a fan of the mild green chunky salsa they had. When she came around, i asked if they had any red salsa alternative, and she motioned at my plate and said "it's the same thing." ..or something to that effect. I forget what else she said, but a simple 'no' would have been fine. All in all, stuff like that should be a non-issue when it comes to service. I can't think of another time where I've had that problem at a place. We might go back if we're in town, but definitely won't be making this a primary destination any time in the near future. read more