I stopped in before it got busy and ordered the French onion soup and shishito peppers. Both dishes arrived hot and were very good. The service was attentive, the atmosphere was nice. I'd definitely come back. read more

Flights & Irons Urban Kitchen - New American Near Me - San Clemente, California

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I'd give it 3.5 stars, maybe on a different night it would have rounded up. Service was pretty sparse so I rounded down. Every time a server came over we had to flag someone down. We sat for probably 10 minutes before anyone greeted us, it was 3:30pm so it wasn't very busy, maybe 3-4 other tables. Every time someone came after that we had to wave someone down for water refills, never asked anyone if we wanted more drinks from the bar, nothing. Had my father in law asked for more ice tea and they never even started a new pitcher in 15 minutes. It was not busy. The place had a to of gluten free options which is a reason I wanted to try it. My server had no idea what gluten was. For a place that had half the menu marked as gluten free I was really surprised she really had no knowledge of the menu, but she was nice enough to go ask some questions when i pressed a bit that I wasn't vegan, and it was like an allergy. The food was good, portions were large enough and everything was pretty good as far as the food. Not sure why the service was so incredibly patchy and absent when we ate at 3:30 and the place was 2/3 empty. It was pretty good, I may try again but for the price point I think the service can be a little better. Nice...but slow. Definitely need more training on the menu! Mid. Not bad. Not great. read more

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What a fabulous restaurant! This is a true craft kitchen. Everything from start to finish was phenomenal. My husband and I shared the meatballs, the tomato appetizer, and bread with butter. Everything was fantastic. Order the homemade bread with house made butter. You will not regret it. We had a few glasses of happy hour red wine, whicj went perfect with our food. Lisa and Ambrien were fantastic servers/ bartenders. They truly made us feel welcome. This restaurant has a modern yet vintage speakeasy vibe. Next door is there actual speakeasy with live music, that I'd like to check out next time. I also want to try the homemade bologna sandwich. We will definitely be back! read more

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Decided to stop by on a whim, as we were heading down to SD. First off, the ambience is very warm and welcoming. The service was top notch and the server was really accommodating. We were seated towards the middle of the main room, so it was really nice to see the "wholeness" of the place. As for the food, we ordered the French Onion soup as an appetizer and the Agave & Chipotle Glaze Shrimp dish. We also ordered a Mai Tai to complement the food. The soup was a bit bland (just preference) but hearty, while the shrimp was flavorful but less filling. You get about five pieces of shrimp on a skewer on a bed of vegetables. The plating was nice and the flavor was there, but I just hoped that there would be a bit more. The drink was great; nothing to complain about. It's part of a small row of stores, so parking is plentiful. You definitely won't have trouble finding parking. I would definitely want to go back for the burgers and drink flights! read more

Flights & Irons Urban Kitchen - Agave & Chipotle Glaze Shrimp - New American Near Me - San Clemente, California

They stayed open late for us and the quality of service and food was still great! Ladies had French onion soup and they both loved it. If you like a more classic soup with a home-made-farm to table vibe you will love it too. If you are looking Claim Jumper style loaded with cheese and bread not so much. I had the burger and it was excellent, medium rare as ordered and perfect Mrs to cheese ratio. Scrimshaw! No one has it anymore but they do. We have always liked this place and will keep coming back. read more

Had the best BBQ chicken salad ever! Fresh! Chicken was tender and cooked to perfection. BBQ sauce obviously homemade. Also shared a rib grilled cheese - delicious and not greasy. Lisa was a wonderful server. Will be back. read more

We had some out of town guests visiting, who wanted a gastro-pub dinner experience and we knew we had to bring them to Flights & Irons Urban Kitchen. It did NOT disappoint. In fact they still talk about this meal now they are back in their home town. We were happy to be seated in the dining area, verses the bar area, in a small table for 4 tucked in a corner. It provided for a more intimate experience but not too isolated that you don't get the energy from the other guests and staff. This is not a large restaurant. In fact, the check-in area is barely designated as its own space and puts you right into the bar area upon arrival. You know you are in a small local establishment, that is cherished by its patrons, the moment you are greeted. The dark colors and warm wood, with the old beach town wooden window frames nearly transports you to another country or era. Allow yourself time to truly absorb this dining experience when you go. Don't rush it! I had a fantastic mocktail called The Daisy, one of 4 different mocktails on their menu. I really appreciated this inclusion on their menu because it shows me their intention to create an experience for all guests in their drink offerings. My husband ordered a flight of beer, but I forgot to take a photo of it. Two of us decided to share the Short Rib Grilled Cheese sandwich as we knew it would be too filling to eat a whole sandwich AND have their fantastic French Onion soup. I am a sucker for that soup so whenever it's on the menu I have to order it. The Short Rib was rich and flavorful but still allowed the Swiss cheese essence to pop through. It was not greasy or messy to eat either. The soup was not salty at all, which I have experienced at other places, and the balance of onion to broth ratio was perfect. The melted cheese and bread topping was easy to eat and was not overly cooked. The entire meal for me was divine!! The other guests in my party ordered the Shepherd's Pie with Pork Belly and the Savory Herb Chicken. Both of which are served on hot cast iron skillets. Everyone at the table commented on not only the beautiful presentation of the food but the ample portion sizes. No one was disappointed with what they ordered. In fact, after their first few bites and the looks of delight on their faces, they insisted we all sample their dishes. The Shepherd's Pie brought back memories from childhood. The mashed potato topping was not too thin or too thick, it was just right, so that each mouthful was balanced. It took a few minutes for it to cool down so as to not burn your tongue and ruin each bite thereafter. The Savory Herb Chicken was so moist and perfectly roasted. The Rosemary sauce brought out the roasted flavor nicely and their carrots were to die for! I kept accepting the offering of "one more carrot" and I have to say, Flights & Irons has now ruined any attempt I make at roasting carrots at home. If you want an artfully prepared meal with a cozy atmosphere and excellent service, please add Flights & Irons Urban Kitchen onto your list. No matter the reason for the visit, you will not leave disappointed! read more

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The parking lot was full but luckily I rode a bike. It was pretty busy and I had no reservation but I was by myself so they were able to find me a spot very quickly. Service was great and I really enjoyed the environment they created. I ordered a vegetarian burger with tomato soup and an iced tea. The whole meal was fantastic. read more

Flights & Irons Urban Kitchen - Vegetarian burger, tomato soup, and an unsweetened iced tea - New American Near Me - San Clemente, California

The food is rather exceptional. Everything tastes so fresh and homemade. This is true comfort food. Very small place but worth a stop for food of this quality. I highly suggest the short ribs and the salmon. read more

I was looking for a place where we could meet my friend from San Diego, for lunch. This place popped up on Yelp. The 3 of us ordered: Short Rib Grilled Cheese -- was told it was very nice! Good short rib filling. Burger -- pretty good size and good flavor. I ordered the Chili and Corn Bread. I really enjoyed it. The chili was tasty, but it was the corn bread that really stood out. I loved that it wasn't overly sweet and had good texture. Wasn't dry or wet, just perfect. Service was good too. We lingered a bit after we ate to continue chatting and they didn't bother us or rushed us to leave. Overall a really good experience! And that chili -- I really wish I had some right now. read more

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This is a fun spot to visit for dinner especially around the holidays! It's cozy and festive and the food is great. My mon ordered a chicken salad and it had lots of tortilla. It was like a mountain haha. It was good! My fiance ordered a burger and also really enjoyed it. I got a shepherd's pie which was also good but not as flavorful as I was hoping. The skillet size was also fairly small but enough for me. read more

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Just discovered this place today! If you are in the area and want some amazing drinks (specialty cocktails, great wine choices, amazing mocktail choices, and great beer varieties) and some awesome food, stop by here. The layout is great with a bar side and dining side; if Victor (the owner is there, ask him about the crow motif, and it will warm your heart! We had the kids meal grilled cheese and (spicy) fries (our daughter loved it), and three short irons (salmon cakes (yum!), green tomatoes (wow!), and the signature bbq meatballs (incredible). Be rest of the menu was so tempting it we were only there for a light lunch; next time bringing dinner appetites! Thanks Lisa for awesome service, and thanks Victor for a great place/meal at a really good price! read more

My friend and I had lunch here. It's not the fanciest restaurant but the great service, drinks and delicious food makes up for it. Our server, Matthew was welcoming, pleasant, attentive and professional. My friend had 2 Margaritas and I had 2 gin & tonics. My friend eats here regularly and ordered her favorite BBQ chicken salad. I ordered steak salad and it was pretty good. For dessert we got pineapple upside down cake and it came with ice cream. Everything was delicious, service was great and per my friend, there's a Speakeasy in the back which is open in the Evenings. I'll definitely have to return and check out the Speakeasy. read more

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Great food and incredible ambience. Staff are fun and food is great. The whiskey drinks are amazing!!

I have been planning on coming here for a long time. I finally made it! The minute I walked in, I felt transported to a pub in Europe. It was really fun. It's a scratch kitchen, and I ordered the Bolognese sandwich. It seemed like the popular thing to do. Well, that dish was not for me - although it came out exactly as the pictures look like. I was told by a friend that next time I really need to get the chili and corn bread. I will give it another try; I really want to go back for the speak easy - but that doesn't open until later. I am a Happy Hour kind of a gal... read more

Very cool vibe. Great craft cocktails. Enjoyed my drink, the burger, and shishito peppers app. Fast and friendly service. I read online there's a speakeasy in the back but unfortunately I didn't know this until afterwards so we didn't get a chance to check it out! read more

Flights & Irons Urban Kitchen - New American Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Wonderful place post hiking. It's casual and has great quality food and service! Our waitress was so kind! I wish I got her name for this post. Thanks for taking care of us! And hats off to the chef. read more

Flights & Irons Urban Kitchen - Bbq chicken salad - New American Near Me - San Clemente, California

Wanted to try this place as it's a little off the beaten path from some of the more prominent (and hard to park at) areas of Dana Point. Cute, quaint, and out of the way. We were greeted warmly and seated immediately, had some very tasty cocktails and decided on entrees. Wifey ordered the chili and cornbread which came highly recommended and is all over their yelp for a reason. I opted for the F&I pork chop which was totally mind blowing. Finally finished up with the pineapple upside down cake for dessert. Friendly and engaging staff, but not overly so, tasty drinks, great service and incredible food. I'll definitely return if I'm in the area. Don't sleep on this one. read more

Flights & Irons Urban Kitchen - Maple Old Fashioned & The Beach Blossom - New American Near Me - San Clemente, California

I searched for "salmon" on Yelp and found this hidden gem. It's a little hidden across the side street by TJ Maxx. My entire meal was wood fired in a cast-iron skillet. The salmon had a really crispy skin, which I usually don't eat, but this one was delicious. my husband's chicken sandwich was also delicious and so were the steak fries. Our server, Gerardo, was so pleasant -- that makes a big difference in making us want to come back. read more

Flights & Irons Urban Kitchen - Grilled salmon changed sides to veggies and mashed potatoes. - New American Near Me - San Clemente, California

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The food is delicious and the service is excellent. The GM, Ambrien, is always smiling and makes everyone feel at home. I highly recommend.

My wife and I had a wonderful dinner and experience eating at the bar. The bourbon, bacon meatballs were wonderful and the choice of different beers were great. The service that the bartender provided was above and beyond what I expect. Cozy ambience was a great place to spend a relaxing evening. We did not feel free to rushed. I would definitely recommend this place off the path to anyone. read more

Super cute restaurant & recommended by locals. Ordered the bourbon bbq meatballs, shishito peppers, Brie, bologna sandwich and chicken sandwich. Also got cocktails and the beach one tasted like summer in a cup. I would recommend the shishito peppers and meatballs. I love Brie but the Brie is supposed to be warm and it was cold. So the previously warm cheese that is now runny, but cold with really hot tomatoes wasn't the best. Also, the server was extremely nice; however, we weren't ready to order food and bc of that she disappeared for over half an hour. No water, no drinks, nothing. It wasn't busy either bc we went at lunch, so we just had to sit and wait. Overall okay but probably wouldn't go back. read more

French onion soup was a joke. Piece of bread with a dab of cheese on it. Really? Don't they know what it should be like? Tasty enough but a fraction of the cheese. They also seemed to use a Swiss, which didn't seem to be the appropriate cheese. Had the salmon. Tasty. Butter on top of the skin? What's the point? On mashed potatoes then with roasted potatoes? Why two potatoes? Vegetables didn't exist. Friend ordered a salad to start. Specifically selected a dressing. Salad didn't come. Well at the soup came, had to check on it. Overall, mediocre read more

My goodness .... They gave gourmet tasting burgers. We had the F&I burger and were in heaven. So darn delicious. We also had the salad AND fries (potato wedges). Lisa was our server and by all means, she has the best welcoming and friendly customer service ever. We enjoyed our first time here. The drinks were ON POINT, outstanding. We learned that they make the ranch, guacamole, hand make the burgers and chicken sandwiches. This makes for a treat because you are getting full on great tasting food. Lisa was so awesome. She knew how to talk to the customers, read the people to see what they may like, she has an irreplaceable attitude and impeccable demeanor. So friendly. Everyone here was friendly. The place is clean. Inside is very welcoming, classy, warm and fun. The restrooms were very clean. The prices were very reasonable. Lots of parking. Restaurant is pretty big inside. Seats are comfy. Great vibes here. I want to try the chicken sandwich next although we're already craving the burger again. Lisa is a really attentive and awesome server. read more

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I rarely write reviews, but this experience was so deeply troubling I feel like I have to share it. My child was burned when a food runner placed a scorching hot cast iron pan directly in front of him while saying "watch out, it's hot" at the exact moment she set it down--far too late. He instinctively reached for it, thinking it was being handed to him, and immediately burned his hand. The food runner and server walked away saying nothing. What followed was equally disturbing. Our server showed little urgency, and I had to ask twice for ice. Aside from giving us burn cream, they did not help at all. The manager did come by multiple times and apologized, but it felt more like she was worried about getting in trouble rather than genuinely concerned about my child. At no point did their response feel empathetic or appropriate. When I raised concerns about serving extremely hot pans to children, I was told it's standard practice and that it was disclosed on their menu and website. Are you for real? My son ended up with a blistered burn, and I spent the rest of the meal caring for him. Needless to say it completely ruined our experience. We received no meaningful effort to make this right or comfort him --just insincere apologies, a server who acted as if nothing happened, and ultimately a response that felt like fear of accountability. If you're dining with kids, I would strongly urge you to think twice. read more

This place has a great vibe and feels like a bar in south. We started with the fried green tomatoes that were covered it Burrata (pretty good). Next we had our mains: chili and cornbread (best cornbread that I have ever had), grilled cheese and tomato soup (the soup has a good kick of jalapeño drizzle), the cheeseburger (solid traditional burger but the homemade pickles and potato logs elevate this dish), and the meatballs and loaded mashed potatoes (both awesome). For dessert, we shared the s'mores (which was like a pizzokie - chocolate chip cookie covered in chocolate with fired mini marshmallows on top) - sooo good. Our friendly server Lisa was a delight. Overall great experience. We will be back. read more

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I've been to this restaurant once before and I remembered it being alright, so we decided to come again for my birthday. Huge mistake. We waited over an hour and a half for raw food. The server claimed they forgot to put in the ticket, so to make up for it, they just completely rushed the dishes. The medium steak we ordered was rare, and the well burger was rare. The worst offender though was the undercooked, slimy, jelly-like chicken I was served. Absolutely unacceptable. This was the first time I've ever sent back food in my life. If you make a mistake and forget to print the ticket, that's okay, just own up to it and offer some sort of compensation rather than serving everyone undercooked food after making them wait 90 minutes. The manager did offer to comp the meal after he saw the state of the chicken, so that was appreciated. Just a very disappointing experience. read more

I had been craving a great steak and wanting to try F&I for some time, so finally visited yesterday. The service was very good and the meal well prepared and presented. There was only one steak option available; the bone in Rib Eye. In my mind I had imagined it to be a somewhat thick slice with a somewhat significant bone (hence the "Bone In" description from the menu), but it was perhaps 3/8' thick with a bone the length of a toothpick. This was in disappointing contrast to the mental image I had already served myself! In retrospect I should have ordered the Pork Chop, which looked amazing by contrast. Sides were excellent and ambiance was great. This is clearly a very popular restaurant which I may one day revisit- just not for the steak!! read more

What a wonderful experience we had at this restaurant and also at their 'speak easy' which is owned by the same people. We stopped in F&I Urban Kitchen for a quick bite, nothing too big, so when we saw a bologna sandwich on the menu, and my husbands childhood memories came flooding back, he decided to try it. The sandwich was piled high with grilled thick slices of bologna on toasted bread and served with steak fries or soup. I ordered an 'old-fashioned' which was perfectly crafted by the bartender. The meal was good, our waiter was great which leads me to the BEST part of the evening--when our server told us about the 'speak-easy' located around the corner in the same center. WOW -- it was a not only fun but fabulous! We had a great time; the service was impeccable, cocktails were crafted to perfection. There's style and elegance in the decor and the lighting gives it a unique atmosphere. When you walk in, there is a small room and you need to ring the bell in order to get into the back. We met the owner and she was so nice and very welcoming! The restaurant is small and casual and you can see how hard everyone works. Like I said, it was a fabulous experience between the two establishments. Even though we live a few miles away, we haven't been back yet, but we hope to get there soon! read more

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Really great spot hidden away in a strip mall. Literally everything on the menu is so tasty and they've got that wood burning oven there that makes all the food taste really good and smoky... Burger was good. The salmon cake appetizer was delicious. You could never go wrong with bologna... the service was a 10... So personable and it was like everyone really liked working there. read more

Flights & Irons Urban Kitchen - Bacon cheeseburger and potato wedges to die for. - New American Near Me - San Clemente, California

We love this place. The service is very friendly. Sarah is extremely hospitable and had great follow up on our diner etc. I had a special (who doesn't nowadays) request and the kitchen met to a tee, very impressive. The Pork Chop had a great mix of flavors. We will definitely be back to try the Chilie and corn bread! read more

Service is friendly and the food is good. I've been here twice and both times I've left with a full belly. The rib eye with the herb butter was delicious. I left nothing on my plate. Drinks are solid as well. All in all definitely recommend it. read more

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I was up in the area and stopped for lunch. I had a grilled cheese with some wonderful juicy short rib meat and grilled onions. It came with fries or you could get salad or add soup. It was great and I ate every bite. The service was really good. They were busy for a late lunch but everyone was smiling and attentive. read more

Truly, the best ingredients best best restaurant I've been to in many years. We are definitely gonna be regulars there. Everything was wonderful. Lisa was great! read more

Very subpar. We arrived early for our reservation (we got done earlier than we thought we 100% intended to wait) about 30 minutes. We were sat at the table right infront of the door. Worst spot ever. It was also where the host were so they were practically at our table all night since the table was right up against where they stood. They were gossiping quite a bit so we heard all of there conversations lol one girl kept running her hands through her pigtails. It was super cold at the table since we were directly in-front of the door. Our server was nice but took so long to get to our table each time. The manager was nice. The food was not great. Simple bar food. Got the smores thing it was SO much chocolate we couldn't eat it. We are in our mid 30s but the vibes fit a much older crowd. We won't be returning. read more

We ate dinner last night. Grilled short rib sandwhich and the pork chop were Devine. The service was quick and friendly. Eric the manager was kept busy delivering food and did so Quickly. I want to thank one of the guys in the kitchen who helped move a car blocking the entry way into the parking lot. He was given the ok to help after I asked if someone could help my husband who was helping the elderly woman who ran out of gas. Victor was busy in the kitchen and when we left he must have retreated to the speak easy. Good job to all read more

Flights & Irons Urban Kitchen - Filet stop mashed with broccolini and red Cabernet wine sauce. - New American Near Me - San Clemente, California

This a great neighborhood restaurant with the sweetest hostess ever and her name starts with a K and she is extremely delightful!! Happy vibes. She makes everything so pleasant! My take out food was mediocre so definitely dine in here. read more

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It was great food, great atmosphere, and outstanding service by Lisa a perfect place for lunch with girls or happy hour.

I hate to give this 5 stars because now you know how good it is!! And it will be even more difficult to get in on busy nights! But... to be fair ... the food and service is amazing. You won't be disappointed. It is a hidden gem. read more

So first off... I totally judged this place off the front. So shame on me! This place is a very sexy vibe. In my opinion something out of a movie, where you meet the love of your life....or....you write a really great script because of the ambiance. Lol Now that I have captured your imagination, my husband and I stopped in the day before New Year's Eve. It wasn't too packed (probably due to the time frame), but it was absolutely pleasant! The drinks were fantastic....the food was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. We shared... and kind of wish we didnt...but thank god...cause I would have eaten EVERY FRY!!!! Our bartender was amazing (maybe owner or related), but at the time... we didn't see the other side. And I know they said it was in the works. So from our experience...place was quaint and attractive....food was delicious...but being we didn't see the other side, I leave the open star as a 'I'll be back to fill it in' We aren't from the area...so this is just a view from someone passing through read more

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