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Tavern at the Mission, San Juan Capistrano, CA

Tavern at the Mission

4.7 (687)
$31 to $50
American
26860 Old Mission Road, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Make a reservation

2 people
10:00 PM
Booked 17 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighborhood gem
  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Good for special occasions
Renowned Orange County restaurateur David Wilhelm, along with longtime partner Gregg Solomon, purchased this iconic location in the heart of charming downtown San Juan Capistrano overlooking the Jewel of the California missions.

The menu features many of his signature classic comfort foods such as his Famous Buttermilk Fried Chicken, French 75's Onion Soup, and Whiskey Shrimp Dijon, featured at his Tavern House Kitchen+Bar in Newport Beach.

Chef Wilhelm is a longtime South County resident, well known for the many concepts he has created over the years including Kachina, Sorrento Grille, French 75, Savannah Chophouse and Jimmy's Famous American Tavern.

Tavern at the Mission has a large, tree covered, pet friendly patio with beautiful mission views. The interiors have been beautifully renovated with a chandelier lit dining room and a warm central fireplace. Our' Tumbleweed Bar' is designed as an homage to San Juan Capistrano's Equestrian and Vaqueros history.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Comfort Food, Contemporary American
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Mon–Sat 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 4:00 pm–5:30 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    DAVID WILHELM
  • Private party facilities
    Private dining room and patio areas available for large groups.
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    San Juan Capistrano
  • Cross street
    Old Mission Road & El Camino Real, Public Lots $2 Validation w/ Ticket
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 687 people are saying

Tavern at the Mission reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Tavern at the Mission in San Juan Capistrano is a beloved spot offering "delicious food" with generous portions, a "lovely" patio, and "excellent service." The "beautiful" ambiance, varied menu, and standout dishes like eggs benedict and coconut shrimp make it a must-visit. Don't miss their "VIP Tuesdays" and live music!
687 Reviews
  1. Rob

    San Diego3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Chelsea and her team in the bar were exceptional. Enjoyed great Drinks and food. Chairs in bar are comfortable and you can’t beat VIP Tuesday. Can’t wait to go back.

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  2. sara

    Orange County30 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Tavern at the Mission is one of our favorite places to eat and take friends. Menu selections are broad, for every palate, service is friendly and attentive without intruding, and the patio is a lovely place to dine. The food is delicious and good sized portions. Highly recommended.

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  3. Peter VIP

    Orange County72 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Good Food & Drinks, Good Service, and Good Atmosphere.

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  4. Scott

    Orange County8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    About the 4th time dining there! Family visiting so I booked 4 for 6:15. Had the filet with green beans, shrimp tails another, beef stroganoff, and a fish over rice and corn. All excellent. Go there about once a month. Patio seating. Fantastic.

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  5. Mary Joan

    Orange County6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My girlfriends and I have been coming to Cedar Creek Inn for as long as it was open. We all miss items on the old menu especially the Marcy Salad and coconut cake. The food we ordered was delicious and we always ask for Betty to serve us. She is the best waitress/server ever. I love her as we’ve always celebrated special occasions with her. You are blessed to have her. Please tell her I said this. We love the new Tavern at the Mission. Sincerely, Joan Swartzbaugh

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  6. Marivic

    Las Vegas1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server, Jen, did an amazing job. She gave us excellent service and the food was very reasonable and delicious!

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  7. Barbara VIP

    Los Angeles68 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on June 16, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    We were disappointed. We went on Father’s Day and the menu was limited. They did not offer their soufflé, which is a specialty. Why go for a special dinner with a limited menu. They missed the boat in keeping customers happy. Will not go on special days again.
    Tavern at the MissionResponded on June 16, 2025
    Hi Barbara, Sorry you were disappointed in our limited menu but when you serve 600 guests on a special holiday, like we did yesterday, it is impossible to offer full menu, and especially our souffle without causing extraordinary long ticket times. The good news for us was that we received compliments all day and night long. By the way, we always post our holiday menus on our website our Guests know what we are offering. Best

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  8. Lynn VIP

    Hawaii58 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was a wonderful Fathers Day Brunch at “Tavern at The Mission”!! with outstanding soft live music!! The good was good with a limited menu but was decent considering how busy they were.

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  9. Jack VIP

    Los Angeles49 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Tavern at the Mission remains one of my favorite dining places. The food is so good! I had the Eggs Benedict again for brunch. Absolutely delicious! The hollandaise sauce is excellent and different than most hollandaise sauces I've had. If you like Benies, this one's really good! My wife had the coconut shrimp and mother in law the lobster bisque, both excellent. If you've never been here you should try it. The outdoor patio is wonderful and provides a view of the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano just across the street. If you're looking for a great dining spot in SJC, this one is a gem!

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  10. Laura VIP

    Orange County14 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on June 15, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our Server was kind. Not being able to modify an order made no sense given the price of each dish. Is it really a big deal to withhold the cheese with the eggs. That should be clearly stated upon making a reservation. Also- no coconut cake any longer??I am not sure we will be back.

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FAQs

Tavern at the Mission offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (949) 240-2229.

Tavern at the Mission is rated 4.7 stars by 687 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Orange County
  4. South Orange County
  5. San Juan Capistrano

Make a reservation

2 people
10:00 PM
Booked 17 times today
Google Map for Tavern at the Mission

26860 Old Mission Road, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Old Mission Road & El Camino Real, Public Lots $2 Validation w/ Ticket
  • Neighborhood
    San Juan Capistrano
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Mon–Sat 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 4:00 pm–5:30 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Comfort Food, Contemporary American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    DAVID WILHELM
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
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