Los Molinos Beer Co — Restaurant in San Clemente

Only giving this place a 5 star out of principle of supporting local businesses and the fact they had great beer. This is the second review I've ever felt compelled to write, so I hope you hear me out. This was my girlfriend and my experience there just about an hour ago-- we ordered our beer and food. I got the doubly hazy IPA which was the best hazy I've ever had from a San Clemente brewery, and my girlfriend got the fruited Belgian which was also great. When we were ordering we were told by both the woman serving us and the woman who seemed to be the owner of the place that they were not using glassware today so instead of doing 5oz and 16oz pours (which were priced out on the menu) that they would be doing 8oz and 16oz pours in disposable cups (most likely due to being shortstaffed and not being able to clean effectively; this was no problem at all.) When we received our beers, my girlfriend's 16oz cup was less than halfway filled vertically, which on a pint glass means it is significantly less than 8oz due to the way the glass (plastic in this case) flares outwards to make up a full 16oz. I would guess my girlfriend was given about 5oz of beer. We were not told the price of the 8oz since it was not on the menu, maybe we were only charged for the 5oz, but they should have been either clear with price or not claimed we would be receiving an 8oz. I decided to bring the beer back up to the woman who rang us up and described the problem in the nicest way I possibly could. This is the exact interaction that we had: "Hey, I really hate to be like this but this is definitely not 8oz considering it's not even halfway filled and the glass flares out towards the top." "I will give you the extra beer but this is where they told me to fill it to" She then hands me the beer she topped off. "Thanks I appreciate it and I'm sorry about this. " "Here you go, looks can be deceiving."

There are a couple of things that annoyed me about this interaction.

She was passive aggressive in her response and made me feel like I was cheating myself into getting extra beer for my girlfriend which wasn't the case whatsoever. Her lack of awareness that their business is brand new and I could've easily given this a one star to make a point and bring their rating to a 4.0 average; it's bad business practice to treat someone like that in general, but especially when your business is brand new. The way in which this woman was willing to blame her mistake on the owners of the establishment when there wasn't even a line/indent on the glass for them to have indicated she should pour their 8oz pours to... she just underfilled it. "Looks can be deceiving." Yes. Even if that glass had been filled halfway vertically it would still only be 6oz and not 8oz. It was filled even less.

We had great service from this person before this situation arose. It seems like this person needs to work on resolving conflict (which I know from personal experience is inevitable in the restaurant business) because they were generally pleasant before I calmly explained my problem to them. I left without closing my tab because she made my girlfriend and I feel too awkward to close it, and because we have no problem giving an automatic 20% tip to a business we would like to support. Great beer! Just get a full pint when you go if they're not using glassware.

Last thought, but the fries we got were delicious and a great deal for $6, but the $15 bahn mi (we didn't get it) they were serving looked extremely small for the price, especially when compared to a bahn mi at a place like MRK Public just a few minutes away that is cheaper, completely homemade, and...

Los Molinos Beer Co has become the heart of the neighborhood, blending craft brewing excellence with the welcoming, communal spirit of a classic German beer hall.

The moment you step through their doors, you’re greeted by friendly staff and a vibrant sense of ‘gemütlichkeit’, that cozy, cheerful togetherness that invites everyone in.

Los Molinos has supported families like ours, encouraging our kids in their own endeavors while being a place to gather, celebrate, and feel right at home. Their commitment to building relationships and respecting the local vibe truly sets them apart; it’s not just a brewery, it’s the soul of San Clemente for so many...

Tried this spot on a whim and learned it opened recently. Their beers were exceptional and I can tell the brewmaster values the product he is putting out. The decor has an industrial feel, which includes being able to see vats and other equipment used in the brewing process. It was neat to watch the process in action while enjoying their quality beers.

Large roll up doors, bench-style seating, and a small patio make it ideal for groups. The service was great and it was impossible to tell it had recently opened.

Food was posted on the menu, but when I was there they had a taco truck posted up outside.

Extremely happy with my visit and will...