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Tannins Restaurant & Wine Bar
By Bonnie Small
For more than a decade, Tannins Restaurant has been a fixture in San Juan Capistrano. The menu has certainly evolved over the years, but the emphasis on the simplicity and complexity of wine and food pairing remains central. Tannins does a remarkably good job of making wine approachable as evidenced by Sommelier Jesse Clanton’s Weekly Wine Flight, which highlights one winery at a time (Kuleto Estate during my visit) and offers a perfect way to expand your wine horizons.
Tannins’ cheese platter makes all others look like 98-pound weaklings! A selection of five cheeses is presented with a generous array of fresh fruits and berries along with nuts and honey-drizzled crostini.
Chef Abraham Nava creates a short list of weekly specials made with seasonal ingredients and during our visit the Watermelon and Cantaloupe salad grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let it go! A mound of spring greens, jicama, and carrots is tossed in a light pomegranate vinaigrette and kicked up with generous spears of prosciutto-wrapped cantaloupe and watermelon wedges sprinkled with Cajun spices: genius+scrumptious. With a little luck, this salad will migrate over to the regular menu!
I’d heard that people come from miles around for Tannins’ Butternut Squash Ravioli and, after one bite, I knew exactly why. These al dente pasta pillows are stuffed with butternut squash and drizzled with browned butter kissed with truffle oil, toasted hazelnuts, and frizzled sage.
Another dinner winner is the Chicken Marsala. The kitchen turns out expertly executed chicken escalopes gently sautéed to juicy perfection served with a woodsy mushroom Marsala sauce that is magical when paired with either the linguine or garlic vegetables on the side.
Along with wonderful wines and an equally super menu, Tannins sweetens the deal by offering 2 for 1 dinner entrées seven days a week (with The Local Dish coupon), as well as Wine Wednesdays (½ off any bottle of wine with the purchase of 2 entrées). Cheers!
27211 Ortega Highway
San Juan Capistrano
949.661.8466
TanninsRestaurant.com