Sarducci’s

The place has gone under new ownership-​the food was good, although there are not very many options. To me all the pasta dishes seemed the same with one or two different ingredients. (They do offer a gluten free penne substitution but they DO NOT have an allergy menu making me very nervous since I have a wheat/​gluten and soy allergy. The best they could provided was a menu with GF written in sharpie next to items)
Unfortunately my experience wasn’t so much about the food it was about the service. Hostess-​very sweet and welcoming. The waiter unfortunately did not seem to have much experience. I think there is a lapse in communication between the waiters and the bus-​guys. (sorry not sure their correct title out here on the west coast) The waiter came around a couple times during our dinner and when he did he just seemed confused and often forgot to bring glasses of wine and having to come and apologize it would be just another minute (not sure if this is the bars fault). The people who brought us the food (and the table next to us) kept mixing up which table was which– bringing us the other tables salads-​drinks-​entrees finally realizing by the looks on our faces.
It upset me very much that this place just isn’t the same! Prior to moving to CA in 2015 we used to come here at least once a year when we were out visiting family making it a priority due to it being a favorite. Tonight we brought a family member visiting here for a special occasion and wound up embarrassed that this is the one place we wanted to bring them– gloating about how absolutely amazing everything was.
It was lovely they did have the live music like they always do and the outside setting is so quaint. Hopefully the new owner is able to fix these errors and I can rewrite a fabulous review.

My family and I went there last night for dinner and were really disappointed. We have been enjoying Sarducci’s for many years. Now there are new owners and it has changed significantly.
The service was almost non-​existent. Where does the waitress go?
Ordered coffee with my dinner, when I got it it was lukewarm. When the waitress finally came back she said she would get me some that was hot. NEVER got it.
It took a really long time for our food to be brought to our table.
No one ever asked us if we needed anything while eating so I had nothing to drink with dinner.
The funniest part was after the busboy took our plates away when we finished eating THEN he brought a bread basket.
Used to be lots of people at the restaurant. Now there are very few.
I can’t imagine how the restaurant will make it.

TREVOR PLEASE READ!!!
We just visited on Sunday, Feb 14^th and I am sad to say our experience was far from good. My family and I got there at 4:45 and were seated right away. However, it took our waitress about 15 mins to come over and get our drink order. We already knew what we were going to order so we went ahead and ordered drinks and dinner at the same time. The patio was not super crowded so I couldn’t tell what the hold up was. Perhaps it was just our waitress (we were seated on the patio, row closest to the parking structure, table directly across from patio door). We had driven over the Ortega’s that day to eat at our «favorite» restaurant so getting up and leaving wasn’t an option when we drove here specifically for the fried bread pudding (PLEASE DON’T GET RID OF IT!). Unfortunately, those 15 mins should have been an indication of what our meal experience was going to be. Twenty mins after our order was placed we received two of our salads but yet no drinks, bread basket, utensils, etc. So we had to ask the young man who brought out the salads if we could have utensils. Shortly after our waitress came over with our drinks. My 4yr old and I ordered lemonade. When I got mine it seemed a little dark but, I was thirsty and took two big gulps ONLY to be surprised by the extreme tartness of something that seemed to be straight lemon juice concentrate. My child’s was the same. Unfortunately, we couldn’t ask anyone to change it since we hadn’t seen our waitress since she dropped off the drinks. While this was happening the couple behind us was also having a hard time with service and their order. They had ordered extra veggies instead of mashed potatoes and got mashed potatoes. So they sent back the order. They had also ordered hot tea and didn’t get hot water. When we finally got our meals they looked good and were good but, I had to order a bread basket and was told by the young man who drops off the food «oh, I thought someone brought one to you». He then brought one out. Meanwhile, across from us, I noticed the man looking around and around until he finally got up and went to the bar only to come back with two glasses with ice. At that same moment a couple was seated next to us. Unfortunately their stay only lasted about 15 – 20 mins because they didn’t even get a chance to put in a drink order, no one ever came to them to ask. As for the folks behind us, they got their meals a second time but still with mashed potatoes. So again, they sent them back. By now it was already 6:20 pm and they had been there for some time before us. As we ate our dinner another waitress, who was not ours, asked my oldest son if he’d like a refill, at that time I asked her to bring me water and take back the «lemonade». Shortly after our waitress came back with more «lemonade» again that tart yucky concentrate but just dropped it off and walked away before we could say anything. A lil later another couple came in with a child and they ordered him lemonade. Their waitress let them know that they didn’t have lemonade «we ran out» is what she informed them. At that point I was thrown for a loop since my waitress had brought me «LEMONADE» TWICE already. As for the folks behind us yeah they got their meal a third time but, guess what… WITH MASHED POTATOES AGAIN! They were so upset they did ask to speak with Trevor (the new owner) and although he did try to make it better for them. Really? How? These people had been there almost TWO HOURS and got some mediocre service with only a drink order completed but not without complaints. Needless to say our experience was far from good and it truly is a shame because we LOVE this place and it really is our summer hang out after a day at the beach and to have it close down because the new owner can’t get his staff in line and communicating with each other would definitely be a shame. This place has the potential to be GREAT! But if the service continues like this and the food stays just okay who knows if they’ll last. Trevor don’t just focus on the bar and drinks. PLEASE MAKE THIS BETTER!

This little spot next to the train station is awesome. It is part of the old historic train station. I felt very relaxed in the dining area and loved the view of the Amtrack railroad as it passes through San Juan Capistrano.
I ordered the French dip sandwich and fries. Both the sandwich and fries were very food. The fries were mini potatoes wedges cooked perfectly. I also ordered a side salad with my meal.
I was not disappointed with the restaurant and I will stop here again when I am in the area.

It’s not the same place anymore– it’s different management and the entire menu is different– so disappointed, the great dishes I loved are gone. I think if they were going to get rid of all of the classic dishes, they should have changed the restaurant name. I didn’t stay to eat, so I cannot comment on the food anymore.

This review is mainly about our service at this restaurant not the food!
My friend and I thought we would try this place since it is literally in the amtrak station. We were sat in the Patio, even though it was empty inside.(it had been raining earlier that day too so I thought it was ODD they sat us out there.) Got our drinks and apps in a good amount of time. Chips and guac were fresh. There were a lot of gnats outside and a few landed in my glass of wine. I was disgusted by this and did not drink any more out of my glass. Our waiter never retuned to take our lunch order, 30 mins had passed and we had to catch our train, by this time we were starving! I literally had to get up from our table and track down our server. He said he had forgot about us??? WTF. we payed for what we got and left… theres a little bakery up the street by the movie theater and she makes THE BEST sandwiches there I would rather go back to the bakery any given day then to this horrible place who forgot about me! DONT WASTE YOUR TIME!

Not bad, not great. The food doesn’t really live up to the ambiance, which is great. Get a table right by the window and you can watch the trains go by. The food is nothing special. We got a flatbread to start, I got salmon for my entrée, and my husband got the prime rib. We weren’t wow-​ed. It was decent-​but-​blah. The service was above average, so that’s a plus. We might come back for breakfast. They have a nice patio so sit out there if the weather is good.

I love the ambience of this place. Had a homey, mini-​hacienda feel to it. They have an indoor & outdoor seating.
I ordered the Asparagus & Sun-​Dried Tomato pasta. I really liked it because it wasn’t drenched in it’s sauce. I don’t like my pasta drowning in too much sauce… and for that I say this place does good on their pasta. My friends ordered the Cajun Pasta, and Salmon Picatta (I think that’s what its called. I just know it’s 3 pcs of salmon on a bed of pasta). Both of them are pretty good. My mom ordered the Monte Cristo (sandwich & salad). She hardly ever finishes her food because she likes to save a bit to get it to-​go, but this time she finished it all! Must be that good!
Why 4 stars & not 5? Service could have been better. We waited quite a while for them to get our orders. They were courteous & apologetic though. But when we asked for the one the food to boxed for to go, they forgot about it. They never brought it out & we just didn’t feel like asking for it because that meant we’d have to wait for it. We’ve waited long enough when we got there so we just left. Would I go back here though? Yes. Food is great & willing to give them another chance.

Go Friday or Saturday for the music. You won’t be disappointed if you like a little band called Earth Wind & Fire. Be prepared to leave the venue in a state of bliss.
Burger was super yummy and service was good. Bar tender made specialty drinks per our request.

Would have loved to write a review on the food, instead we came in were seated by the hostess then a older women told us we needed to be done by 1:00 because the table was reserved. We said no problem then a man came by and asked that we not get the table cloth dirty or better yet maybe he should just remove it. At that point we left the restaurant and will never return. Truly two very pompous unorganized managers with no people skills.

Service is great and friendly. For an «Italian» restaurant the coffee was terrible. I had a salad that was swimming in dressing (order it on the side) and a side of home potatoes which were ok but bland. The outdoor seating area is beautiful and I love the area of town its in. Finally, live music by a couple of very talented jazz musicians.

They don’t accept he Unilocal checkin offer but the manager was nice enough to accept it this time.
The nacho appetizer was a bit dry, they need to rework their nacho recipe. For lunch I had their Chinese Chicken salad, the chicken was tender and tasty, the dressing was really good and the size of the salad was excellent. Great views of the trains passing by.

Warning: they no longer accept their Unilocal offer for a free appetizer.
It seems the place is under new management and has gone downhill since the last time I was here. Service is extremely sub-par…it seems like there is a lack of care, as well as they don’t really know what good service should be like?
Our nachos looked as though they just threw everything together on a plate… and since the plate was hot, they put it on top of another plate… but didn’t bring small sharing plates out.
I ordered the lemon chicken pasta as a split plate which was a $ 2 charge. It came in a bowl and was soup-​like due to the amount of sauce. The chicken had a slight lemon flavor but it wasn’t present in the sauce, which was extremely bland. Barely any chicken and lots of fat still on it. My dadasked for the toast that was supposed to come with his meal, but our server forgot and at that point we kind of gave up on asking.
I spoke with the new manager Trevor and he was kind enough to comp both the entrée and my drink, as I wouldn’t let him replace my meal (no point in wasting food, and I didn’t trust their kitchen to make something I’d enjoy). I appreciated him taking the time to speak with me, especially so he can contact Unilocal in regards to the old check-​in offer. Hopefully he will be able to turn things around, because it’s such a beautiful location.

Well, Sarducci’s is under a new management and will be saying goodbye soon. So sad. I will miss their Calzone! This corner restaurant won’t be the same without Sarducci’s! Thanks for all the good times!

Food — The Bayou Shrimp was super delicious. The orange colored cream sauce was tangy hand flavors of cilantro. I definitely recommend this appetizer. I also ordered the Tomato and garlic flatbread. It was more like a thincrust topped with cherry tomatoes basil and garlic with melted Parmesan cheese. I thought it was ok. I ordered the asparagus and sun-​dried tomatoes pasta and the asparagus was cooked to perfection. Crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle. The pasta was cooked to al dente and it had a light flavor of olive oil. I definitely recommend this too. Overall, the food was good and ok for the price we paid. It was around $ 10 plus an entrée.
Atmosphere — We chose to sit outside because the A/​C was broken. Although we had decent weather, there were flies that bothered us. The price you pay to sit outside right?
Drinks — I ordered the housemade Bloody Mary (extra spicy) and that was really tasty.
Service — Our server acted like he was new at serving and had to come back and ask about our order multiple times. He was very respectful and polite so it wasn’t a big deal.

Since this restaurant has changed ownership it has definitely «jumped the shark». Service was sketchy. People bringing out food orders didn’t know what food went to which table. They would wonder around asking patrons ‘did you order this?’ We ordered calamari which we have had many many times. It was really bad. Tiny, chewy, over cooked. We told our waiter and he was very apologetic and brought us another order. Same results!
There are better options for dining across the street. Try Hennessey’s !!!

Our three year old son absolutely loves to sit on Sarducci’s patio and watch the trains go by. This restaurant has a great location, family friendly with very decent food. We have been here several times, and have always enjoyed our entrees. My husband ordered the Greek gyro for lunch which was packed with flavor and tender lamb. I absolutely loved my Cajon Shrimp Pasta, which I would order ten times over! The sauce was fantastic with just the right amount of kick! Definitely recommend!

What a great Sunday brunch spot. My family and I visited Sarducci’s and were welcomed by the friendliest of staff members. The patio is an absolute must.
Afterward we were able to take a stroll through the Historic Los Rios district, visiting galleries and antique shops from local artists. It was a great spot for the family!

This is our «go to“place when my wife and I are looking for some good food, outdoor dining and music. The food is good with nice sized portions. Good selection on the menu and servers are very pleasant and professional.
Music on weekend evenings starts at 6:30 and a very enjoyable mix of music. Always enjoy an evening at Sarducci’s

This nice little restaurant is located in the middle of San Juan Capistrano and right next to the train station. I was able to call ahead during the day to make a same-​day reservation for our group (9 people) which was really convenient. Once we arrived, we were automatically seated. The ambiance was that of an old time mission. They had nice artwork up on the wall and nice decorations that really complimented the theme. The amtrak would roll by every so often and it was nice to see. Out on the patio, they had live jazz playing (too bad we were seated inside).
One thing that contributed to our great experience here was our awesome waitress. I saw that they had a check– in deal for Unilocal (free appetizer w/​purchase of 2 entrees. One per table), so I playfully suggested to her that since we were a big group, we should be allowed 3 free appetizers because we had 3 tables all together. She laughed about it and to my surprise then agreed to it because of my logical explanation. We ended up getting two orders of the spinach and artichoke dip and some calamari. The dip was amazing. You can’t go wrong with warm cheese and spinach with freshly baked pita bread. The calamari was also fairly tasty. I thought it was a little racist in its plating because it came in type of a bento box with chopsticks… whatever, still tasted even better cause it was free!!! (she later informed us that she got into some trouble from her manager for it, but still kept her word).
I ordered the half rack of the New Zealand lamb. It was marinated in olive oil and tarragon and roasted to perfection. It is paired with a nice lamb and red wine reduction and served with assorted vegetables and a big serving of potatoes (substituted as fries = winning). The quality of the meat was nice and tender. I should’ve ordered the full rack cause the half wasn’t enough for me. I also tried my friends dishes (orange glazed salmon, salmon medallion pasta) and they were also very delicious. As for drinks, the peach iced tea and POG juice (pineapple-​orange-​guava) were very refreshing. Our awesome waitress was also very adamant about checking up on our drinks and refilling our complimentary basket of freshly baked sourdough bread. By the end, we had no room for dessert cause we were so full.
Don’t pay attention to the negative reviews cause my visit to this establishment was great! 5 Stars!