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Sundried Tomato – All New Seasonal Menu
By Cathy Villafana
Nestled in the historic district of San Juan Capistrano is the Sundried Tomato Café, where guests can savor both tried-and-true favorites as well as new menu creations. “We enjoy keeping our menu fresh each season and are excited about our new fall/winter items,” says Rob Quest, Jr., managing partner for Sundried Tomato, which also has locations in San Clemente and Laguna Beach. With that in mind, I had to check it out for myself.
My husband and I started off with the new Crispy Shrimp Wonton Wrappers that disappeared all too quickly from our plates. We then sampled the fresh, plump Black Mussels served with a Saffron Cream. Be sure to keep bread handy for dipping in the delicious sauce. We also tried both types of the Mini Rustic Jars — which contain sundried tomato hummus or a layered torte with sundried tomato, pesto, and whipped goat cheese, then served on a flatbread. The verdict is still out on which is my favorite.
Not new, but certainly worth mentioning, is Dr. Rick’s Salad. This is such a wildly popular item that it actually receives applause after a hiatus from the menu. After one bite, I could see why.
Originally a catering favorite, the Pasta-less Vegetarian Lasagna also made its debut on the updated menu with its layers and layers of fresh vegetables. Last but not least, was the Braised Beef Pappardelle topped with Goat Cheese, which I nominate for a permanent spot on the menu!
Of course, you can never go wrong with the classic Signature Creamy Sundried Tomato Soup or one of the daily soup creations. This makes for a great starter or can be a meal in itself. Whatever you decide to eat, you’ll be pleased by the variety of offerings, both old and new.
Sundried Tomato features happy hour specials every day from 2 to 7 p.m. at all three locations and full-service or take-away catering is also available.
3 Great Locations:
San Clemente
821 Via Suerte
949.388.5757
San Juan Capistrano
31781 Camino Capistrano
949.661.1167
Laguna Beach
361 Forest Avenue
949.494.3312