Claremont offers some of the best dining experiences around the foothill communities. With the Old Towne Village, and the more recent Village Expansion, the choices for excellant locations to eat out is abundant! Here are some of Ryan's Favorite Claremont Dining Hot Spots and what he has to say about them!
Tutti Mangia - Italian fine dining in the Village. One of the more popular fine dining restaurants in Claremont.
Viva Madrid - A great hidden treasure. Tucked behind Rhino Records in the Village, most people don't even know that it's there. Traditional Spanish tapas, with around 40 to choose from. You can also order off the dinner menu, but I find it best to pick a bunch of your favorite tapas, and combine it with their red sangria. A fun place to eat!
Patty's Mexican Food - A tucked away spot, which some might refer to as a "hole in the wall". The place is always busy, but they have the best burritos! Chicken, Rice, and Cheese with Pico...enough said!
Bua Thai - One of my favorite Thai restaurants in the area. Very reasonable prices, good portions, and a really nice ambiance. All of their noodle dishes are fantastic. I have had them all, and they all taste great. I recommend asking for the "spice caddy" after they bring your food to give it a little more heat if you're into that.
Menkoi Ya Ramen- This Ramen restaurant specializes in thick, curly-style noodles which come from the northern Fukushima in Japan! The noodles are hand prepared and hand crumpled every day and the chashu is always fresh and never frozen. They now offer vegetarian options with veggie broths made with vegetable dashis and shoyu!
The Back Abbey - Hard to get a table on a Friday or Saturday night, but it's because the place is great! Great burgers, and unique selection of European beers that are hard to find anywhere else.
Eureka Burger - Some of the best hamburgers I've had in a restaurant! Unique styles from the Jalapeno and Egg, to the Fig Marmelade Burger. I have yet to have one that I don't love. Beers are reasonably priced, and there's a large selection as well.
Union on Yale - Definitely sit outdoors when you go here. You can see into the kitchen where the food is prepared through a wall of glass. There is a bocce ball court right in the middle of the outdoor space where customers can play. Firepits and heat lamps keep it nice at night. A bit pricey, but a great place to sit for a while during and after your meal.
Some Crust Bakery - One of the best bakeries anywhere around...not just in Claremont. The pastries are large and are amazing. For breakfast, you can even get an Egg Slider which is a gourmet "Egg McMuffin" on delicious bread, with quality ingredients. I get mushrooms, spinach, turkey, and pesto... Yum! Place is packed in the mornings, so plan accordingly.
Crème Bakery - Exceptional authentic French style bread and pastries. Everything is amazing! I recommend grabbing a couple buttermilk biscuits !
Claremont Craft Ales - While not technically a "bar", Claremont Craft Ales is a local craft beer manufacturer with a really great tasting room! The beer is unique and delicious, and the atmosphere is like getting a bunch of friends together in a nice, clean, and well appointed garage. On Fridays they bring in various food trucks which are a huge hit! Ryan's favorite local spot to grab a drink with friends.
Packing House Wines - What started off as a wine shop/bar has now expanded into a great restaurant as well. They have a massive selection of fantastic bottles of wine from all over the world to purchase, as well as a car and lounge area for tastings. A great place to get a glass with some appetizers, or sit down for a full course meal.
Casa 425 Lounge - A very modern and sexy place to have a drink and relax. Inside is a contemporary "LA feel" lounge with glass rock fireplace, and comfy white couches. Outside in the courtyard, are several fire pits with seating all around them. It's the perfect place to get a drink on a summer night outside by the fire pits, and share a few appetizers.