Fratello’s
638 Camino De Los Mares,Ste E200, San Clemente, CA, 92673
Fratello’s Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in San Clemente for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in San Clemente for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in San Clemente for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
638 Camino De Los Mares,Ste E200
San Clemente, CA, 92673 - Phone (949) 661-5200
- Website https://fratellosonline.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Trina J.
We have had family dinners at Fratellos about 6 times in the past couple years, and here are conclusions based on such: Pros: The food tastes fresh and authentic Pretty location/nice views Nice family-oriented atmosphere Many vegetarian options Cons: Staff seem sort of cranky (Perhaps overworked?) Prices increase pretty often Menu changes pretty often Long wait for food (+30 mins)
(3)Marisa D.
Full Italian Menu Finally a place that delivers deserts too Tasty Friendly employees
(5)Christopher C.
While traveling we enjoy exploring local eateries rather than the same chain resturants that can be found anywhere. On this particular evening we were looking for pizza, and the first 2 options we wanted to try both were very packed with long waits so we went for a not so touristy area and option. Very pleasant and welcoming upon entry and the hostess was prompt to offer us a basket of bread and even take our drink orders as our server was busy. Unfortunately that is about as good as it was going to get. We had a fairly simple order of a salad and a pizza. I am not sure if the kitchen was trying to close (an hour and a half before there posted hours) or were just experiencing their own challenges. I heard our server call through the window several times for the salad, but was not produced and brought to the table for 45 minutes from when it was ordered and of couse by that time the pizza was ready too! One of my biggest pet peeves when dining out is having my meal stacked and pushed to the table almost instantaneously, did I mention it took 45 minutes for a salad! Now on to the food it self. The salad which took forever had warm greens and the ranch dressing is watered down, so much so it was splashing out as I was collecting it onto my fork. The pizza was of the street vendor variety, foldable thin, soft and flemsy toward the center and grease dripping off creating puddles on the plate. Not the worst I have had, still better than a national chain delivery, but also not the best. Most definitely not good enough to suffer through another attempt. Drink refills for soda were fine, refills on ice tea, get a second glass of ice on the side since all the ice seems to melt in the glass before it makes it to the table. The atmosphere was quiet with customers. Had a very local feel and I almost felt out of place with several sets of eyes on us from patrons as we were making our seating selection. There were more servers than customers it seemed, and the table behind us was their spot to gather, count tips have a glass of wine, and talk about life. Not bad until 4-5 start collecting together and forget there are still customers in the resturant and there was still another 30 minutes left. If you already enjoy this place great, if you are trying for the first time, good luck!
(1)Mimi S.
I hadn't been here in a few years and I was worried the food may have gone downhill....but alas! My worries were found without merit. I had the stuffed shells with meat sauce and let me tell you they were yummy!!! So cheesy and flavorful! The complimentary bread is delicious and warm. They even have olive oil and vinegar at the table to for dipping sauce! The service is friendly, quick and attentive. The bathrooms were clean, which is a huge plus! The parking structure of the plaza is awful....always has been...terrible planning on the part of the contractor. Here is a secret though....park in the back! It's almost always empty because nobody knows about it!
(4)Liz R.
I called in an order last night for the most simple items because it's closer to my house than any other Italian restaurant. 1) angel hair with Alfredo sauce 2) angel hair with garlic and olive oil 3) Caesar salad 4) bread and butter I get it home and there was barely any sauce for the Alfredo. The noodles for the garlic and olive oil was clumped together and not even fully cooked. And I received ranch dressing for my Caesar salad. & didnt even receive the bread. It was $30 for noodles and sauce and we ended up throwing it away. Definitely going to make the drive to Sonnys next time.
(1)Nick T.
Jamie, you really need to sit down and have a Come-to-Jesus meeting with your restaurant and realize the service is simply woeful - or you may know this already and not care. I waited tables and bartended through college, so I know the challenges waitstaff, kitchen, and bartenders face. I'm just constantly gobsmacked at how brutally poor the service at Fratello's is. My family and I used to sit at the long, tall table behind the bar so we can catch whatever game is on, but it always turned out that our waiter would be the bartender (often you) who usually has a full bar of patrons to attend to, so we always thought our slow service was due to that. Tonight, though, I decided my 2 children and I would eat down below in the dining area so that we would have a dedicated waiter. When she took our order, my 9 year-old was deciding on what sauce he wanted for his pasta and when I turned to the waiter to tell her, I caught her in mid roll-eyes. Real nice. It took all of 45 seconds of her day to take their order. My children's order arrives via the bartender 15 minutes later and I finally get to place my own order. So I place my order with the bartender - a Caesar salad, because I just want to eat and get out at this point. After 25 more minutes I finally see my waiter again as she decides I'm allowed to have a refill on my water. She says, "Your salad will be right out." I wait another 10 minutes and decided enough was enough, so I go to the bartender to cancel my order and pay for what my children ate. She summons over my waiter to tell her I need to cancel my order so she runs my card, tosses me the receipt for me to sign, and offers me absolutely no hint of an apology. No apology from anyone. It was as though I was at fault. I have never heard of such a thing. The only thing I did wrong was think I could get a Caesar salad at a restaurant at 25% capacity at 5:05 PM. Jamie, I don't know if your kitchen is just not logistically set up to handle your clientele or if the workflow your management has implemented just doesn't work, but you have a serious problem with the service (speed and attitude) your restaurant provides. I should not go 25-30 minutes and not see my waiter. The thing that is really unfortunate is that I think your food is great. I think your pizza is some of the best, if not the best in the area, but I am not going to subject myself to your appalling service any longer. You guys can't even figure out pizza delivery without all my toppings being slid to one side of the pie upon arriving at my front door (which you twice blamed on me for some reason), or it being served cold, or missing salads and other things that are ordered with it. I don't know how much longer you will be in business, but until you figure out how to treat your customers, you will have to do it without my continued patronage. I will no longer be trading you my money for poor treatment from your staff. I hope you figure it out, I really do, because San Clemente deserves good Italian food.
(1)Kayt C.
Worst Service Ever. Took 45 minutes to get my subpar salad. And the pizza sat in puddles of grease. Do not go here.
(1)Ray V.
Came here tonight on a tip from my daughter and her boyfriend. I'm a chef and a restaurant owner... And a big fan of Italian flair. The good: The food was very tasty. We did have to send back one item and I'll get to that later. I had the pasta with meat sauce and added sausage to it at the suggestion of the waitress. The rest of us had various pasta dishes. We also had bread and calamari as an appetizer. The food came out in the proper order and our waitress was attentive. The food was also accurate and attractively presented. The decor was smart and casual with lots of roomy seating. They also have a full bar which is nice. The stand out for me was the sausage. They said it was made fresh on site. The waitress did an excellent job of correcting the entree that was sent back. The not so good: The menu was a little jumbled and didn't attract you to the signature items. Not a biggie but as a first time visitor I would have expected to see more of a call-to-action to help me. I did ask the waitress but she just seemed to really like everything so it wasn't a help. Tip: waitresses should have their 2 favorite items with reasons readily available to convey. The only bad thing of substance was the "veal" dish we had. The sauce was very bland and more importantly the veal was way overlooked and very tough. It was so over cooked That it was curled up. *The waitress did take it off the bill and didn't charge us for the replacement entree. Conclusion: I liked it. It's that simple. I enjoyed it and thought the service was spot on. I read the other reviews and those that say the service wasn't very good may have just visited on an off night. They put out a good product and when one of the entrees fell short they made the right corrections on the fly and did a reasonable job of "making up for it" within the visit. There's ample parking and it's easy to get to. I'll be back and will suggest it to friends.
(4)Ronald B.
We have been eating here since it opened and never had a problem . My only complaint is that the side salad that used to be part of the meal now is extra and consists primarily of lettuce, a few olive slices and some onions and cost is extra. I don't quite get it. Otherwise , pizza, pastas , and specialties of the day are very good and service usually very good.
(5)Joanne P.
I just want to give a shout out to Joey for allowing my son to have his first dairy free pizza on Sunday night. 11 years every party he went to that had pizza he was not able to be "like" the other kids. Now we have a place the will make dairy free cheese pizza!!! Thank you!!
(5)David S.
Always good food, good service. Friendly comfortable, not much noise so can have conversation, family friendly, i eat here often because of all of these positives!
(4)Shaina J.
I have been going to Fratello's since before I can remember and ALWAYS enjoy it. From the Chicken Sorrentino to the Minestrone Soup to the Pizza.. you cannot go wrong. Had a friend in town and got Fratello's delivered the other night- sausage pepperoni pizza, caesar salad, and LOTS of delicious focaccia. We can't stop talking about how yummy it was!
(5)Kenna G.
This place did not cut it for me. The first problem encountered was getting seated. We asked politely how long the wait would be and we were told 10 minutes, more like 30-40. After about 25 minutes of waiting we asked how long it would be and reminded the host (named Joey) that he told us 10 minutes and he immediately denied ever saying 10 minutes. During out wait we witnessed a waitress on a phone call only to walk away with the phone in hand and pulling the cord along with the phone box down to the ground. Once we were finally seated we were brought enough bread to satisfy a giant's hunger. The bread itself was nothing to die for. Once we finished that basket of bread we asked for more which took 15 minutes to get to our table. There were four of us and one of us didn't have a set of silverware so we had to ask twice for them to finally bring one out. Again i had a clear view of the waitresses and waiters to see them fooling and around eating bread. Once the food was delivered we were pleased with the portions but the taste was mediocre and lacking flavor. The caesar salad was good but loaded with cheese, thankfully, the cheese was good. I ordered the chicken piccata with mushrooms and wasn't satisfied taste-wise. What makes chicken piccata outstanding for me is the lemony, thick, creamy sauce and crispy, breaded chicken breast. However this dish lacked those traits and rather than breaded chicken it was "sautéed". It came with a side of pasta which was nothing special in my opinion, in fact I didn't like it at all. Definitely wont be returning.
(2)Randy L.
Comfy family place with plenty of room to spread out, so that you can have decent conversations. Clean restaurant and restrooms, good service, and an open kitchen that keeps busy. I had the Seafood Sampler that included salmon, whitefish, prawns, and scallops. When I told the server that I can't have wheat, she offered me the gluten-free pasta, which I ordered. This was a great dish. The fish and scallops were very tender, and not over cooked. The pasta was fine, and the sauce was very good. My wife had the shrimp scampi, which was a solid 3 star. Our friend ordered the salmon salad, which came with a huge piece of salmon. Everyone at our table was satisfied with their meal. Complimentary bread basket looked good.
(4)Tara K.
We tried Fratello's for the first time, why it took us so long to go who knows, very family oriented, felt like I was in New York! Bread was amazing, eggplant Parmesan rich and delicious, my picky two year old daughter loved it! Every bite she kept saying mmmm. I think it was delicious! And Claro the busboy was on top of the game helping out the waitress's by refilling drinks! Great place thank you!
(5)Cordell M.
Salmon salad is great, cooked perfect every time! Don't rush perfection.
(5)Lisa C.
Only visit this restaurant if you have an abundance of time. Although the food is good, the service is extremely slow.
(1)Mrs Jeter J.
Fratello's is one of the BEST restaurants that serves Italian food in south county. The Italian family recipes distinguish Fratello's from the other Italian eateries. The owners, Jamie and Joey, are personable, attentive and accommodating. The caprese appetizer is an excellent starter with large beefsteak tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil and just the right amount of sauce. Once you try the filet bisteca you will understand why this Italian restaurant is superior. My favorite is the angel hair pasta with jumbo shrimp it has the perfect hint of citrus. They have a GREAT Happy Hour - cocktails are $5.00 - their well vodka is Absolut. Beers on tap are only $3. Weekends are usually busy but they are all very attentive & customer service is a priority!! Highly recommend Fratello's ... you feel like family when you are there !
(5)Robert D.
I've never been here before, but have heard of it. I'm getting the fetuccini Alfredo. No side's with it. Also I didn't order any. But it does come with oven baked bread! It's pretty good. The smell of parmesan from the fetuccini is strong. I don't really like parmesan cheese. I know.....then why order this dish? Right.....? Because usually the smellb isn't that strong, but the fetuccini is really good. Also it's hot so watch out.
(4)Brooke S.
I don't know why I even bother coming here. We continue to come, hoping it'll be better, but it never is. Service is always bad, food always takes forever and is mediocre and the water....the water is DISGUSTING. We were there tonight and it took easily 15 minutes to get a beer, our to go order was wrong and the waitress threw some attitude when I addressed it. Of course I probably wasn't super nice since we had waited almost 20 minutes after our check to bring 2 Francesca rolls home. But I was over it at this point. It's a shame since we live across the street. The Fratellos in Laguna Niguel is way better and cleaner and much friendlier. Oh, and my side salad tonight had more wilted lettuce in it than good lettuce. I am officially done with this place.
(1)Steve S.
Let me first just say that yelp is for the most part bs, for chronic complainers and an easy way for competitors to burn compitition they cant compete with. That said take any complaints for this place as bs. Its is quite possibly the best Italian food in orange county if not so cal. Everything made from scratch with the best freshest ingredients. The atmosphere is casual almost like hanging in a family members house. The service is personal enthusiastic about the food, the owner and the restaurant. The food is exemplary and wholy authentic. If you want a true Italian meal or simply unforgetably exqusite food this is the place. Great views as well if you go toward evening. The bonus, it will not cost you a fortune. Very if not too rea sonably priced. I would pay double for food this exceptional. I have no problem giving Fratellos 5 stars. Well deserved and i look forward to trying every dish on their huge menu which they are happy to have you mix and match. So glad I found this place. Thank you for such a great restaurant.
(5)Jeff B. D.
First time last evening @ Fratello's. Jourdan was terrific. Very good service. The shrimp and clams were delicious. Enjoyed the Veal Chop, Sinatra style. Mmmmmm. Delicious. Great family restaurant. Enjoyed it. Be back soon. Keep up the good job, Joey and Team. Sincerely, Jeff B Dorough. Coming soon - Fratello's Outdoor Deck. Stay tuned for details and progress report.
(4)Kim S.
Below average at best. We won't be back to this neighborhood spot. Food was all just mediocre. The glass of chianti I had was the highlight if it all. If I was looking for a bar and cocktails, would return. Otherwise, wouldn't visit this place again. Better spots all around in San Clemente.
(2)Anne K.
Always great food. Servers don't always seem happy but they are always attentive. We love Fratello's.
(5)Mike D.
I don't know why I continue to order delivery service from these guys. No matter what they manage to fuck up one part of the order or the other. Either they don't give me the extra dressing or they leave out a topping on the pizza. Very frustrating. And when you call them back to fix it they simply don't, no matter how many time they promise they will, they want fix it. So I'm done.
(2)Matt W.
Great family owned Italian joint!! Anyone born and raised on the East Coast understands and gets what a true Italian family restaurant is. Tucked away in a plaza corner it is easy to miss but well worth it. Tasty food, good beer wine and alcohol selection and great prices!!
(4)Maria B.
After 16 years of living in San Clemente, we decided to try Fratellos, especially since Zonas' closed. The garden and caesar salad portions were large. However, the main courses were poor. I ordered the 1/2 and 1/2 meat ravioli and pasta. I believe the ravioli were frozen and the pasta overcooked, dredged in sauce. My husband ordered tortellini and ravioli. Again, frozen and cooked. The decor reminded me of a pizza parlor, yet the main course prices were $13, high for simple pasta. There was no one to greet us at the door and we seated ourselves. Kids were running around the restaurant. Service was OK. Our kids are grown, so we don't want to deal with children running around, so the casual environment and plastic table cloths wasn't exactly what we were hoping for. Pricey, but good for families with kids.
(1)Ryan J.
Horrible food. Cold soup, pasta has to be a few days old...just gross. Save your money and go to Ralph's and buy a microwave dinner. It will taste a lot better
(1)Monika M.
A crowd pleaser! After a local recommendation, we ordered for a party of 30 and heard compliments all night! Generous portions, delicious food. Tortellini, chicken Marsala...pasta dishes. So before leaving town we stopped by for pizza and it was perfecto. Will definitely return. Worthy!
(4)Michelle F.
The Pizza and the warm Italian sandwich are the best!! We get double meat with everything and add peppercinis with a side of ranch dressing (homemade too)!Recommend ordering with extra cheese and extra meat. Joey and Jamie are very friendly and attentive and know all the locals by first name. The ambience is great and great for kids too. My only suggestion is improve the wait time for to go or take out orders. Pizza's take out can take up to an hour wait, busy days like Friday and Saturday are up to 1 1/2 wait.
(4)J Z.
The food was very disappointing, I would have been better off getting a frozen pizza from Ralph's. Calamari tastes like it's been frozen and reheated, even the bread basket was stale. Skip this place, it does no justice to Italian cooking.
(1)Cheri H.
Worst service ever...never going there again..Was going there alot and now after the service and mess up on my credit card and speaking to the obnoxious disrespectful owner JOEY .I will not return.I will also be telling all of my friends and family not to go there..Really no biggy for me.But ya did just lose some great customers ....
(1)Holly P.
Husband and I had just visited for the first time and we were beyond pleased with what we got. Very casual, self seating with large portions and friendly staff. Our server did an excellent job in making sure we had drinks and that we were happy without being pushy. Only bad thing that stood out was the long wait for our meal, but we had bread and salads to keep us happy. Our server apologized too for the wait. The food was delicious. Hubby ordered the two sausage in marinara and when it came out you could tell that the sausage wasnt the kind you buy at the local grocery store and I had the Fra Diavelo ( forgive my spelling) or the "spicy" sauce and it was exactly what i was hoping for. We loved that you could picked your sauce along with the type of pasta you wanted. If you are looky for fancy this isn't it. If you want family owned and amazing classic Italian this is it. We'll be back for more!!!
(4)Candy O.
Fratello's catered our Christmas party for 36 people and Joey was pleasant and helpful with the menu planning. The food was well packaged, on time and the volume was most generous. Most importantly, everything was fabulously delicious! The Chicken Limone was to die for. Our guests were very complementary and many came back for seconds. Would repeat and will recommend with confidence.
(5)Friday P.
Had dinner again. Food is excellent and we've had several of their entrees over the past year with no complaints. Service is very good (we had Connor again). He always makes us feel welcomed. Definitely recommend Fratello's for an excellent dinner and casual ambiance.
(5)Janelle W.
Wow Last night with friends here was delicious. I had a bite of someone's Eggplant Parmesan and I was floored. ITs rare that people can do Eggplant Parmesan correctly. It had just the right texture, it wasn't soggy or lacking flavor like many places can do it. Of course I enjoyed a solid favorite of meat ravioli and it also was good. The service can tend to get a little busy and preoccupied but they got our food to us still hot. MY water glass was never filled, but I'm not complaining.
(4)Gayle G.
Good family restaurant. Food was good with a large varied menu. We had lasgna, sausage and peppers. and a salmon dish. All was delicious. Good service and good prices.Will go back.
(4)Todd L.
The only place in town that has Scungilli! It's good and spicy must have every time I'm there. Cool little bar if your eating alone and it's an easy place to make friends.
(4)Natasha L.
Been here a couple of times and love their Fettucine Alfredo with mushrooms. Yum. Their foccasia bread with Olive oil is amazing. Jamie the bartender is friendly and very good at balancing all her customers. I enjoyed the ambiance. Had a good cocktail and my husband enjoys the Peroni. Perfect for those wanting a light draft beer. Definitely will be back.
(5)D B.
Gone here for years ALWAYS good always the "local" place to go.. But last night, we receive unbelievable service from a nice young lady! It was late, we were hungry, but we didnt want to stuff our selfs..so the wife and I split the eggplant parmesan...The waitress just didnt bring it out with a couple extra plates...No the cook gave us to smaller portions prepared as if we'd order one. They split all the sides equally also...And by the way,they also put in new carpet and added glass all around the lower dinning area, a nice but subtle change,but it SO help to add some privacy to both sides..All in all a very please evening for our wonderful local Italian restaurant...Oh and the menu was updated..Great job guys (and girls)!
(5)Brittney W.
Yummy! Meals are well priced, drinks are a little much starting at $10. Garlic fries and minestrone is wonderful.
(4)Grimm R.
Keep trying to like this place put I think we're done. We were the only two people in the whole place except for a small party outside .one waitress. the spaghetti came back under cooked .. Mozzarella sticks were overcooked almost blacked the sauce was off. I don't understand the only people in the place and they couldn't cook 2 things right... The waitress got slammed at the bar all the sudden .. l literally had to go get my own water.. On another occasion we came in my entire meal came all at once soup was cold. bred was cold.. This place is a hit and miss sometimes its good sometimes its not
(1)Sheila C.
I am very sentimental about my dining experiences at Fratellos which have always been very, very satisfying. Definitely, not anymore. Our salads were small in size (even the entre salad) and prepared as if we were at a roadside diner. The bread wasn't what it used to be. Where did the little loaves go? Instead we got what looked like pizza sticks...barely warm. The pasta portion filled only half the glass fish plate and was barely lukewarm. Very expensive too. We had non attentive service. What has happened to my yummy, local Italian restaurant?
(1)Sean S.
My wife an I like to come over hear once in a while. It's very romantic, the view is great and the food is pretty good. I would suggest that you try the white pizza. You can't go wrong with that and the lasagna which is pretty good. Not quite as good as Selma's but good for something different.
(3)Mike S.
Used to eat here A LOT. Food has gone downhill and fast. Very inconsistent and food is bland. Stay away. There are far better italian places to eat. This location is awful. Ordered linguini with white clams. Sauce was so watery and no taste. Pasta was mushy and almost tasted like it was microwaved. Very disappointing and learned my lesson. Will never be back.
(1)Sylvia H.
We eat here all the time and their food is consistently good. They have a huge selection on their menu. My husband loves the Seafood Fratello, I always order Pizza. ;-) We'll definitely be back!!
(4)Jane D.
Wish I could write my review based on my dining experience except no thanks to the young woman who answered the phone, we were unable to place our order. I heard they delivered but wasn't sure if they still did (things change) or if they did so on weekends. I phoned from a land line and asked the girl who answered... "do you deliver today?" Very quickly she said "I can't hear you" and then hung up on me! Are you kidding? I phoned back twice only to get a never ending ring (I know I got the correct number because I hit redial). What poor service! I mean, give a person a chance to speak with you BEFORE you hang up on them! Maybe the phone should be where the person answering it can actually hear the customer? Apparently Fratello's is SO busy they don't need any NEW customers? We ordered Chinese! =o)
(1)Lenny M.
Huge fan of their traditional pizza. Either to go or dine in it is consistently good. Owners are always on site and friendly. Not in the mood for pizza go for one of the Baked dishes of a meatball sub. Yum! Oh and the serve coca-cola products.
(5)Michele M.
The menu is fabulous and all our food was really good. Our waitress was wonderful! We had a steak special and the scallops. Yummy And the bruschetta is really awesome!
(5)Traci L.
Don't order anything to be delivered that is not SIMPLE, or unless you don't mind NOT getting everything you order and pay for. We've ordered full-on dinners twice and the order was missing the salads the first time and the baked potatoes the 2nd time. The girl on the phone didn't even ask how we wanted the steaks cooked. I had to tell her. After having her repeat the order, it was still friggin wrong. PISSER after spending $70+.
(2)Cherie T.
Great food, good prices, very good service, family atmosphere...this is one of few restaurants that my whole family can agree on! It's also a good choice for date night.
(5)Helena N.
I would actually give this place 31/2 stars if I could. The service was great and our waitress was very attentive. The food itself was average and a bit on the salty side. I like that they offered complimentary bread to start off. The portions are huge but the quality of the food is not worth the price. Unlike Zonas, at least this place serves edible food!
(3)Marie M.
I ate here last night after driving up from Oceanside which I do about once a month. The problem with this place is that it appears to be a family affair and the management clearly does not care about his "family" staff. The waitresses are just there to collect their checks. They are all young without training on how to service customers. Their sauces are a little thin, but I would rather have thin than a pile of gloup. Last night however was the last straw. I simply commented when I received my meal that I had never had it served on a "fish plate" and the waitress commented that "we have always" served it on a fish plate. I said, "Well, I always order this and have Never had it served this way, it's always in a large dinner bowl/plate." She shrugged and just walked away. Ok, so she's not interested. My girlfriends and I stayed late and it was about 9:45 and they close at 10:00. This same waitress came over to our table, picked up the candle and blew her breath all over our table as she blew out our candle! Unbelievable! We were stunned that a wait person would actually do something so rude. There were several other diners in the restaurant and the staff clearly wanted to leave AT 10. But this is the perfect example of the attitude of most of the staff. The food here is acceptable, not great and the drinks are over priced. The "girls" meet here now and then. I don't think so anymore. If you read the older reviews, you will see many complaints about the incompetent staff. The owners apparently don't care about their customers. Because of this only 1 star!
(1)Barbara G.
Pastas and piZzzas are awesome, great for bringing your team after playing some baseball. Don't get their minestrone soup( it's yesterday's prep and the kitchen sink thrown in a bowl)... Also their diablo sauce is spicy but amazing explosion in your mouth.
(3)Steve L.
The smell of garlic when you enter is a nice touch. We went with a party of 12 and enjoyed solid Italian fare with excellent service. Most of us brought food back because the portions are huge. We had pasta, pizza, a calzone (called "calzoni" here), chicken marsala, garlic fries, side salads and some delicious bread. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
(3)Holly Y.
Best bread of any Italian place I've been to. A couple different kinds, served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Also, their traditional Italian vinaigrette dressing is the best dressing I've had- full of herbs!
(5)Sarah M.
Food USED to be amazing, but the last few times I've gone its been awful. If you want Italian, don't go here! Its very bland on overpriced for how boring the food has become. I have been going here since I was probably in middle school, but I doubt I will eat here much anymore. Oh and the service is horrible, they all sit around and gossip.
(1)Big a A.
A pleasant surprise for italian food lovers. Friendly staff, surprisingling good italian food, and overall a great experience. I will be back. I loved their bobby special pizza and did I say the staff was awesome! Good looking and friendly!
(4)Dale C.
We like most everything we've ever ordered here, whether it was take-out or dine-in. The main problem is that when we order take-out, we almost NEVER get everything we ordered.....disappointing, because we live a fair distance from the restaurant. There's almost always a salad missing....once they left off one of two dinners we ordered!!! Tonight, the owner, Joey told the take-out cashier to make sure all the salads and soups and bread was with our order (he recognizes me), and then I asked her if "everything was in the bag," and she said yes.....sure enough when I got home, a salad was missing. Yes, there is a lot of confusion with the wait staff, and apparently a lot of turnover. It doesn't pretend to be a gourmet Italian restaurant....just a family-oriented Italian restaurant. We say the food is good.....if you can get them to give you what you ordered!!! Maybe we just order on bad days!!!! I would say it's kind of crazy that you have to wait 45 minutes to pick up food that is almost fully prepared when you order it!!!
(2)Eric Randal Y.
so yesterday was a family dinner everybody drives to a restaurant of choice so it's happy hour I order a beer only to find out the happy hour prices are only valid at the bar so I pay more for my first beer and walk myself to the bar for my second I ordered a pastrami sandwich I ask first how big are your sandwiches when I should have ask are they any good I received a large loaf of bread with nothing in it well leather jerky for meat a spot of mustard no mayonnaise a small salad with what resembled sliced tomatoes the only thing good about this sandwich was it had cheese when I inquired about the quality I was told that's the way we make sandwiches so being DISAPPOINTED AGAIN the waitress are attractive but you can't eat attractive NEVER WILL I GO HERE AGAIN!!!!!! I can get a better Sandwich at STATER BROS. it was better when it was peppinos big lights hanging over your table covered with dust cobwebs hanging down disgusting but the food was good if you didn't look around at the filth
(1)Michael G.
I've passed this restaurant several times before I finally gave in and decided to give it a try, and I'm glad I did. The location isn't the best, but when you first walk in, you know you are in an authentic Italian restaurant based solely on aromas coming from the kitchen. I went with my wife and family and ordered the Chicken Marsala, the Chicken Parm, and a spaghetti and meatballs. The foot came out fast, fresh, and delicious. The portions are huge and the bread also tasty and warm. The service was prompt and friendly. I'm a local and we'll definitely be going back.
(5)Esther L.
I came here right before my ex-boyfriend got deployed... it is very family-ambiance but they sat us in the far corner so it was romantic for us. it was just us, away from the families, which was very nice of them They had a decent list of wine (not the greatest) but a nice selection The menu is ok also. It wasnt a huge list of food but still had good selections I ordered the clam pasta (forgot the name) but it was REALLY good... I love seafood pasta and ive tried alot of place... But this place seemed pretty fresh and good. Cant say it was the best but it was still highly up there I'd recommend this place... good food, good price and good service...
(4)Tami S.
Unfortunately, I have to give this restaurant 1 STAR based solely on the management/ownership of this restaurant. I have been a regular customer for two and a half years bringing in anywhere from 5 to 20 guests typically once a week. The management of this facility is very frazzled and typically doesn't know how to run this operation. I have experienced this on many occasions (typically when it comes to paying the bill). This more recent issue was the icing on the cake. My servicer made an error charging my bill, which she immediately contacted me and told me she would have the owner/manager resolve the issue by the following day. After four weeks and three credit card transaction mistakes later, he is still calling me to pay my bill (when I have already done so), and HE has messed up the transactions one after another, I have refused to pay the bill since I have been inconvenienced on four separate occasions because he can't seem to figure out how to operate his credit card machine, and RECENTLY TRIED TO CHARGE MY CARD AGAIN WITHOUT MY PERMISSION! After putting in some thought and consideration, I called him and told him that I thought this was extremely bad business and very unprofessional and that he shouldn't charge the servicer for his mistake because this was now his error and NOT HERS, he rudely interrupted me and told me I was no longer welcome into his establishment and felt that I was trying to get away with not paying for my food that I ordered. I personally have never experienced such bad management, let alone ownership in a restaurant or food establishment, and have NEVER been this insulted. I am so disappointed and disgusted in this situation. The food has been very good; however, I will never recommend this restaurant to anyone again (and trust me this has been my favorite Italian restaurant in the area and I have recommended many people to visit).
(1)Nancy J.
Dirty menus, dirty floor, dirty bathrooms. Minestrone soup that looks like scraps from trash. Stromboli with cheddar cheese? And something crunchy in it? Simple pasta dish for little Sis that took FOREVER! Should be called "Fraternity's" because of inexperienced college-aged kids running the place. Ughhh.
(1)Nick B.
really fun family owned restaurant. food isn't amazing, but it's always good and at a great price. service is wonderful, the servers are all very sweet! Love this place, I recommend it to everyone looking for a fun family night out!
(4)Rita C.
Best Italian i have ever had. Alfredo didn't have too much garlic & I didn't feel like I had just eaten a stick of butter. Service was a little slow, but manageable.
(5)Mami S.
I would pass this up; in short, over-priced and low quality Italian. First off the place is dank, dark, and needs some better ambiant lighting. Location is bad bc it's tucked in the corner. When we went in it was empty; my guess is the price + quality of food. They have way TOO many menu options; a good restaurant keeps their food list "short" which in turn allows for them to find tune their dishes. The lunch specials are decently priced, however our server made sure to disappear until "lunch" was over with, me thinks to force us to choose a higher priced item (ok, force is a strong word as we could have got up and left). For 9.95 the lasagna was promising, and was delivered in a deep serving bowl, six inches long and the lasagna was literally swimming in sauce, of which the sauce had no taste. I was hoping for some elegant tier of lasagna, but that didn't happen. Instead of a nice tier of lasagna it was goo, literally. There was nothing to cut because it had sogged itself too much. I'm thinking they pre made them in the dish, froze them, then cooked them instead of serving fresh. The spaghetti and meatballs my daughter had was BY FAR the best thing on the menu. This was not a "fine dining" experience. Perhaps if they lowered their prices their revenue would go up and they could justify charging what they do. The current prices don't match their food quality. Final verdict: Olive Garden is more authentic than this place.
(1)Jojo D.
I may be a bit harsh maybe 3.5 NOT great food If it was on the East Coast it would have already been out of business It is edible but nothing to write home about Service 3 star Food 3 star ambiance 3 star prices 3.5 star would I go back...well maybe the best part of the meal was the coldstone's ice cream i had at the first level of the shopping mall
(3)Carl T.
When the menu is an inch thick there is NO WAY the food is fresh. The bread and calamari were good. Otherwise the food is disgusting, a big moosh of nastyness so gross. The "special" cream/Alfredo sauce is an up charge which they don't tell you about. (It sucks anyhow) The decor, oh boy, its kind of like being at a garage sale. Buy some new table cloths already. Want my advice? Skip this place!
(1)M F.
First time here, very poor first impressions. Totally under managed; full wedding reception going on on a Friday night, all of the regular diners appeared to be getting short changed. People next to us received their pizza that was totally burned crisp on the bottom, ordered something else. Had to wait an inordinate amount of time for food. Not enough cooks, help, they even substituted a paper cup for glass water glass because they were out of dishes. No offer to comp a meal or even apologize even after asked of waitress. The food was adequate and overpriced, definitely won't be back again. There are much superior alternatives in town. I should have known something was up when I heard the owner yelling at the waitstaff as we were walking to our table to "just get the food out and make it through the night". Poor management, poor impression, Sorry, you just lost potential customers.
(1)Jessica B.
My parents LOVEEEEE this restaurant. They're a Sunday night fixture. I, on the other hand, am harder to convince. I like to eat different places, I don't like to eat the same thing week-after-week, and I'm not a big fan of Italian food. Tonight it appeared they had updated their table covers. It was an alright change. They've been trying to work with their appearance for a while, adding fake plants a few months ago to add to the decor. My biggest issue with all their updating is that the menus still come with sticky fingerprints more often than not. Yes, it's a family-style restaurant, but the menus are plastic and deserve a wipe down between customers (my parents, on the other hand, don't notice it -- mostly because they don't need menus anymore). The wait staff are all very friendly. The owner is a nice warm guy that gives hugs and chats up with chummy conversation. My only issue with some of the servers is that they try to memorize your order. It only makes things uncomfortable and 9.5 times out of 10 its wrong. Grumble. My parents and I, on more than one occasion, have pondered carrying a writing pad with us to write our order down and hand to the server. So not impressive. Interestingly, the waitress the served us tonight, I'm pretty sure wrote down the order. She was quick with drinks, salads, etc. I started with a hardy Caesar salad that is really one of the best I've add. Fatty and delicious. Unfortunately, I didn't get what I ordered for my main dish. I ordered Spaghetti marinara with mushrooms and got some linguine with some sort of other funky mushroom saucey-thing. My parents made me feel like I was a young candidate for Alzheimer's saying 1st that it was just flat spaghetti and 2nd - that the sauce was probably a more watered down marinara. I tried to eat it but I wasn't enjoying it at all. After a few bites I was over it and grumbling to myself. When the waitress returned my parents told her (I was over it and could careless anymore). She was kind enough to apologize and quickly removed the dish from the check. I know we'll be back. They do have some good dishes and my parents drool over their food. Their nice and friendly. If you like simple Italian food and want a warm atmosphere, you really can't go wrong eating here.
(3)Lauren B.
Usually come here with my wine buddies. Nothing fancy but they are great for large groups of people and are very nice. But this last time to tell you the truth my meal was not very good. I guess they have dishes that they are "known" for like the Chicken or Veal Sorrentino but me; I was trying to be good so I had the Antipasto salad. It was iceberg lettuce with rolled up pieces of lunch meat and cheese that was cut too big and over powered the rest of the dish. NOT very good at all, everyone else's dish looked good but most of them were eating more than a salad. However, the Chicken Rustica isn't bad. (Also a salad) Overall, it's okay Italian with okay prices. I just had a bad dish.
(3)Gary J.
This is the only place to eat in this part of San Clemente and thank God for it. With all the economic struggle restaurants can have, I hope this place never fails to prosper. There are so many items on the menu that I love, it's hard to find somewhere to start. Ah the Veal Chop Marsala, the chicken Caesar salad with homemade croutons, the fresh hot breads, ice cold Stella's. I could go on and on, like the Pizza's and pasta dishes and the roasted tomato basil soup is one of the best I've ever tried. If you have a big group, they can accommodate you, we have had many large gathering here over the years, with special rates for fixed item dinners and never been disappointed.
(4)Lucy S.
YUCK! This place is disgusting. My husband and I went here a year ago with a Groupon for 50% off, and it was not NEARLY worth what we paid. The bread was stale (not to mention that it was literally a HOT DOG BUN!!!), the salads had been sitting in the fridge all day (I saw the waiter take them out of the fridge myself, already pre-made - definitely not fresh - more like something from a fast food restaurant but slightly worse), and our actual meals were so bland. I got the gnocci - the cheese inside of it was cold and a little hard. My husband got the veal and it was very tough and chewy - really not how veal should be. Also, the service was not very good, and the place was empty on a Saturday night. Should have left before we ordered and taken the empty restaurant as a cue.... Seriously so awful and disappointing. DO NOT EAT HERE!!!!!!!
(1)Anthony D.
This is a family-style, old-school Italian restaurant. Good food, good value and family ambiance. The menu is extensive and most of the items are traditional Italian restaurant fare. Hearty, plenty of flavor, not too much garlic and big, really big portions. The owner Joey, is cool and he makes a darn good New York style pizza but you may have to "encourage" him to make if for you. As the owner, he spends a lot of time making sure everything is good and everyone is happy so he doesn't have much time to make a pizza. He has a full staff to do that but all you have to do, is tell him, "Hey, Joey, I hear Jose makes a better pizza than you, is that right?" That's usually all it takes to see him jump behind the counter and show everyone he's still got it. Jose by the way, is an absolute artist of pizza. I don't want to think of the thousands and thousands of dollars worth of pizza I've devoured during my lifetime from all over. (One of the best Neapolitan style pizza's I've had was in Tokyo -- better than a few of the pizzas I had in Naples, by the way.) Fratello's is solid. It doesn't pretend to be anything else than it is -- a very good old school Italian restaurant. Say hello to Joey and to Jose when you go. You're bound to make this place one of your favorites.
(4)B A.
Have been here a handful of times. Each time was a worse experience. Service on multiple occasions was very slow. The food was not that great. They stop serving sandwiches after a certain time, which leaves only their pasta (with a heaping amount of bland sauce) to choose from. Has potential, just not there yet.
(2)Rob H.
Great Italian food. Anything with the Red Cream sauce or the Fra Diavolo sauce is awesome. Also try a salad with the creamy house dressing and mozzarella cheese on top. Nice family atmosphere.
(5)Lauren B.
wow, i'm the 3rd lauren to review this place! and the second lauren b- trippy. anyhow, went there with my hubby saturday night for dinner before a 730 movie, it wasn't overly crowded and we were served promptly. the portions are huge! between the wine, bread, and soup, we were nearly full before our eggplant rollatina w/ pasta arrived. we had plenty to take with us! food was so-so, but was overall an enjoyable meal, and is a pleasant environment. would go back again :)
(3)Kevin M.
Definitely not what you would expect from an Italian family restaurant in a strip mall. Part of the Peppino's Family this restaurant used to be named Pepinnos. Not sure why they changed the name but the menu essentially stayed the same and is virtually what you find at the other Pepinnos restaurants as well. Truly good food and very reasonable prices. Love the Calzone/Stromboli and the Artichoke Hearts salad, has a different name but they'll know what you are talking about. Atmosphere is nothing special and if you feel like sitting at the window you can watch the freeway or in the evening, the Ferrel cats in the bushes, but take someone interesting to talk to and enjoy the food with and it won't be an issue. I like the food, good menu, good prices and convenient.
(4)Rich n Nancy C.
Family run with a couple of locations, Fratello's has good but not great Italian food. The service is friendly and the food reasonably priced. They always seem to be busy. While I don't generally care for minestrone soup, they make a good one. The spaghetti is also tasty but their lasagna and pizza are just okay - nothing special. Try one of their veal dishes or the spicy calamari pasta.
(3)Danielle W.
Fratello's is a great, casual family style italian restaurant. I've been coming here for years and always enjoy the food and they have a great wine list. The owners are also super nice.
(5)Waterman J.
For those of you not fluent in italian Fratello means F... you. "You wanna some water? Ima busy ova here" "You lika the tennis? I changa to the basaball. You order this I charga you for that. This was the worst service in recent memory. Fratello's offers Highish prices, mediocre food and miserable service Thinking about eating at Fratello's? fuhgettaboutit.
(1)Annette J.
Food is pricey for their "ok" quality. Service was "ok". Restaurant can use a renovation. Will not go there again.
(2)Erin R.
I love this place. My son and I go sometimes after picking him up in Oceanside. Now, I LOVE soup but I've never really enjoyed Minestrone. It's usually to bland. Fratello's minestrone is to die for. I could eat nothing but! The service is always friendly and prompt. The prices are great for the amount of food you get! Love Love LOVE Fratello's!
(5)Harald L.
My fiancé and I came here today for dinner. I ordered the Calzone with salami, garlic and several other ingredients. My fiancé ordered the "special" Spinach ravioli. Service was ok. The calamari were good. The bread was gross and old. When the main dish arrived I had 2 bites before I almost threw up. The calzone had 3 slices of Salami, some brown pieces of meat which I suppose was the Italian sausage. I also found a few pieces of basil. The rest of the Calzone was stuffed with 2 pounds of greasy disgusting cheese. After the second bite my stomach turned. When the waiter came to check on the food, I told him I was disgusted by the food. He was obviously startled by my response and said he was sorry. My fiancé agreed and was unsatisfied with her dinner as well. The waiter ( young kid maybe 20 years old ) did not make an effort to repair this situation. He never offered an alternate meal or a discounted bill. This was the last time that I will eat here. Burger King would have been a cheaper and better choice.
(1)theresa n.
i was here sunday night for dinner and i must say, i love the laguna niguel location way better than this one. our service was horrible and our waiter forgot to add a couple of things to our bill and didnt tell us until after i already paid for the bill.
(2)