The Vintage Steakhouse

The Vintage Steakhouse
By Amelia Winslow

Step into The Vintage Steakhouse and you’ll be transported to another era. This romantic and charming restaurant, located in downtown San Juan at the 1894 Capistrano Depot, has ambiance and history built-in. Want to dine in a 1927 fully-restored Pullman Car or have a cocktail in an 1887 Freight House Bar? No problem; just climb aboard.

At The Vintage Steakhouse, they do things a little differently, which is why you might have a more enjoyable experience there than at a conventional steakhouse. First, they prepare all of their meats and seafood over an open-fire, mesquite char-broiler, so every dish has a distinct and flavorful taste. Their entrées also come with vegetable and potato sides at no additional charge, so you won’t have to order a bunch of extras just to feel like you’ve had a complete meal. Best of all – besides the quaint setting in which you’ll experience your food – are the prices, which somehow remain low despite the impeccable quality of the food and service.

We sampled so many delicious items at The Vintage Steakhouse that it’s hard to highlight just a few. The featured mushroom appetizer, Abalone mushrooms in wine sauce, was mouth-wateringly good, as were the mesquite goat cheese-stuffed tomatoes. The bone-in smoked pork chop with a red currant demi-glace was also memorable, as were the sweet potato fries and perfectly cooked veggies that accompanied it. For the true meat-lover, the Tomahawk rib eye steak is a must-order if it’s available, as the presentation alone was quite a treat.

Do hold back enough to save room for dessert, since Vintage’s sweet offerings should not be missed. Though we intended to merely taste the warm chocolate cupcake, it’s extraordinarily creamy mint whipped cream and refreshing peppermint ice cream caused us to devour the entire dessert in a matter of moments.

Whether you go for a cocktail, dinner, or decide to host your next event at The Vintage Steakhouse, you’ll be on the right track.

The Vintage Steak House
26701-B Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano • 949.661.3400 • www.TheVintageSteakhouse.com