Adele's Hollywood Cafe HAS BEEN DESIGNATED THE BEST Breakfast in San Clemente

The BEST Breakfast in San Clemente can be found at Adele's Cafe. Adele Lux, was born and raised in San Clemente and spent 20 years as a waitress in local establishments. She saved her money and in July of 1998 she accomplished her dream of establishing Adele's Cafe. It didn't take long for "Adele's" to become a local's favorite for both breakfast and lunch. Adele's Cafe is located in Old City Plaza, the site of the original San Clemente jail house. As Adele says, "We're only hard to find the first time." Once you try any of Adele's breakfast specials, you will go back again and again. The next time you want a great breakfast accompanied by great service and a very pleasant and friendly environment, head for Adele's and find out for yourself why Adele's Cafe has been designated the BEST Breakfast in San Clemente.

Eye on SC Breakfast Hot Spots

By Christina Scannapiego San Clemente Times

San Clemente is home to some great morning eateries. Here are 15 favorites... Adele Lux likes to hug. In fact, free hugs are actually prizes on her Web site that customers can print out and present at Adele’s Café to collect on. This type of friendliness isn’t just a marketing gimmick to gain patrons, though; there’s a real intensity and excitement in her eyes that says she really wants to hug. Born and raised in San Clemente, Adele worked for 20 years as a waitress all over in town, namely Sunrise Café. Two decades is a long time to collect a good customer base and put a chunk of money away—which is what she did. “People wouldn’t say ‘Hey, Adele, have you ever thought of opening a restaurant?’ Adele recalls. They would say, “When are you opening a restaurant?’”

Finally in 1998, she gave herself a year to meet her goal. “The first restaurant I saw, I thought, This is the one I want. I didn’t get it.” Fifteen potential restaurants later, Adele opened the doors in July of 1998 with $2,000 in the bank. “Some people would call that financial suicide. But I could live with failure—I just couldn’t live with ‘What if?’” Without advertising dollars, Adele took the grassroots approach: with enough food to feed about eight along with a menu and a business card, she went straight to the bank, the gas station and the grocery store to wrangle her first customers. “I get business from those people to this day,” she says. According to Adele, her many regulars often tell her, “Adele, this isn’t your restaurant—it’s your kitchen.” She says that since she opened, she hasn’t lost a dollar, which she attributes to her passion. “I don’t have to come to work,” she says. “I get to come to work.”

While Adele is definitely a unique character, her story isn’t necessarily one of a kind. Behind all of the breakfast spots in town are people who took chances on their restaurants and have pride in the quality and labor they’ve put into them—be it a longtime dream or chance opportunity. The following is a sampling of San Clemente’s favorite local spots (not including chain restaurants such as IHOP, Denny’s, Bakers Square and Carrows) whose owners have built a place for residents and visitors alike to spend their mornings.

Adele’s Café 111 Avenida Palizada, Suite C, 949.366.1121, Breakfast served: 6 a.m.–2 p.m. “I wanted to create a place where you could come in and be by yourself and, in a few moments, you’d be joined in the conversation around the room,” says Adele Lux of her restaurant located in the Old City Plaza. Her café is bright with an unintentional retro vibe and huge outdoor patio. Her blueberry pancakes, omelettes and hash browns are must-haves.

Chef MOZ Dining Guide

LOVE THIS PLACE! I have been eating here for the last year and I have to say...I have yet to have ANYTHING I don't like! The food is awesome, the service is wonderful and the climate is great! I highly recommend this place to anyone. [28 Feb 2006 20:10:05]
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Recommended Dishes: All breakfast plates...or burgers...or salads... ­Matt vog2000 at hotmail dot com