Cafe Mimosa — Restaurant in San Clemente

FABULOUS BREAKFAST ! We've been coming to San Clemente for quite a few years...as far back as 2010 to have breakfast at La Galette Creperie opposite the San Clemente Pier now sadly closed. And in more recent years Brussels Bistro, South of Nick's & Antoine's Cafe on El Camino Real. BUT THEN ! Finally after years of talking about it we moved into a beautiful townhome up in the hills of San Clemente in late 2024. Now that we actually lived here my wife suggested we should expand our horizons and try new dining spots. On a recent Sunday during our bike ride I stopped by here and asked to see the menu...a server / cashier named Ian even said they have a machine to make fresh squeezed orange juice. WOW ! I also saw an espresso machine. I was impressed with the breakfast menu, the fresh squeezed orange juice and Ian. The following Sunday we drove down here soon after 8am when they open. We ran into Ian the server again and he offered us seating on the heated outdoor patio. FIRST UP ! Glasses of cool water, a Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice and 2 x Cappuccinos with 2% milk and hazelnut syrup. This Ian guy was certainly on the ball....our frothy cappuccinos came out quick and tasted pretty decent. FOOD ! My wife ordered the Scramble Plate ( Scrambled eggs. Choice of ham, bacon or sausage. Served with house potatoes )...my wife asked for crispy bacon while I was chose Traditional Eggs Benedict ( Toasted brioche, smoked paprika, hollandaise, house potatoes )...with hard poached eggs. Meanwhile the outdoor patio was getting packed out quickly. Like I said our cappuccinos tasted pretty decent..very strong coffee underneath the froth. WHOO HOO ! Our breakfast dishes arrived faster than a speeding train and looked astounding. In fact we were a bit overawed by the beautiful presentation of our breakfast orders. TOTALLY DELICIOUS ! We loved our brekkie dishes...crispy bacon for my wife and perfect hard poached eggs for me. And the smoked paprika hollandaise sauce tasted killer good. YEAH BABY ! My fresh squeezed orange juice tasted good to last drop. We had already agreed that a return visit was a must when a guy with a big moustache and a baseball cap on top planted himself in a chair at our table. It was Antoine the colorful owner...a French guy who has lived in San Clemente most of his life. In fact his Mom runs Antoine's Cafe on El Camino Real. We had a wonderful chat for a few minutes. Gee the flourless chocolate cake sounded good...excellent lunch menu. WE'LL BE...

I literally do not go review anyone, but being a small business owner myself, I could not stand by the gross and extremely disrespectful treatment I just received at this restaurant/establishment. I walk San Clemente with our newborn while my wife works on on Del Mar at least two days a week. I make sure she’s asleep and then try to eat quickly being conscientious of other patrons. She’s two months old so for the last month we’ve been out and about, I’ve patronized Cafe Mimosa one to two times a week with myself and baby and also with extended family, always seemingly welcomed to the outside patio extension with the stroller. Today was the exception. I was greeted by an affable male server and told he would be able to seat me accordingly after he was finished seating a few other customers. While the I was waiting I was approached by a very rude and disdainful female server who asked me if I could take my baby out. I asked what she meant as I was caught off guard, and she said they do not allow strollers in the restaurant and I need to go outside and take her out. I apologized and said I didn’t need to sit inside is it ok if I sit outside like I had been for the last few weeks and she huffed and rolled her eyes and said he can help you and stormed off. I felt very taken aback as to why when I had been respectful and patiently waiting, I would be basically attacked into either removing my sleeping baby or leave. I tried to articulate that to the male employee and he just shrugged and she smirked when I said she was rude and as they looked at each other and gave no response. I feel that was unconscionable behavior as a representative of any business. I am in customer service and relations and that’s a degrading and inhospitable way to treat anyone for any manner looking to patronize your business. I would recommend the “high-end” Cafe Mimosa apparently for non-families and God forbid someone with say a handicap or a wheelchair. I wonder if they would ask them to leave that outside as well? And while I do not remotely equate that at all with having a child, I do equate it with them being unwelcoming to any necessary apparatus for a customer and them making sure that said patron knew they were not being welcomed in their...

We decided to try Cafe Mimosa on Sunday. It was a long wait. Waiting is common for any nice restaurant in OC, so we get it. But they had a young girl just writing names and throw out a time. There were two tables for two that sat empty for an hour while we waited. I managed a restaurant in NYC, so I went over and just simply asked about the two empty tables that were sitting empty for 45 minutes. Her response was I need those for a bigger party. With a smile, I said, we could have already eaten and left. Naturally when a restaurant like this has young kids not properly trained, it's pointless. But to make things even worse, some guy in a hat and mustache comes out moments later and confronts us. He says, let me show you something. Points out the 5 groups ahead of us, says we need those tables and says to me, "so you see, that's how we roll and you have to wait". Not, my apologies for the wait, we're managing the best we can and it can be difficult to manage to accommodate everyone. Completely unprofessional and actually confrontational. Two other parties next to us had their eyebrows raised. This guy was a royal Ahole with a bad attitude. Thankfully my wife quickly ushered me out of there. Also, while we were waiting, we witnessed a waitress through the window, take a linen wrapped silverware, and wipe off remaining moisture on the table that she wiped with a wet rag. Nice... so wet rag, followed by using your linen that will touch your face eventually. Poorly managed restaurant.

UPDATE: we decided to give this place another shot. The service was awesome, the food was awesome and we even made amends with "Mustache" (Antoine) who is a graceful guy. We are so glad that we gave it another shot. The restaurant business is difficult and we had to own up to our own grumpiness and show some grace. We are so glad we did, as this place is now one of our favorite sunday spots. Thank you...