Not sure why some people think this place is just ok or a "steak" version of Olive Garden. But this place is phenomenal. Came here to celebrate our birthdays. They are a week apart so we combined them. Very sneaky spot because it is not visible like a regular restaurant, but that just adds to the ambiance. Had reservations at 8 PM and our seats were on the second floor where we had a view of the wonderful sunset. We were seated in a both that fits 6, but it was better because the food was spaced out nicely on the table for easy access. My wife tried the Lady Luck cocktail which has vodka and others very a very tasty drink. We ordered the party house dinner rolls that that were ok. We also got the Lobster Crab Mac n Cheese. OMG this was so good. The melt cheese, the chunks of crab and chunks lobster made this an exquisite item to eat. We could not stop talking about how good it was. It also had cheese crated over the top as well. Lastly we got the Executive platter which is a collection of steak that the chef chooses. Our platter had filet mignon, 40 day dry aged New York Strip, and a 35 day dry aged Ribeye. All three were fantastic. We could not stop gushing over the ribeye and how well it was prepared and tasted. The steaks were all seasoned to perfection and did not require anything added to them . They also serve them with 3 sauces, but they are not needed at all. They also brought us small dessert for our birthday which was scoops of ice cream, but we were so full that we could not eat all of them. This place is worth the price and the staff and management were great. Special thanks to Daren. But special thanks to the tall slender gentleman who helped us. We can't remember his name but he made the night so enjoyable. We will be back as we have a few more birthdays to celebrate this year. read more

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Rare Society was a birthday celebration for one of my really close friends, and I was very much looking forward to this place because I'd heard some good things about the quality of their meat and their food. I ended up getting the Caesar salad, which comes with lemon, fried anchovy, and a ton of pecorino, and they were not kidding about the pecorino. It was literally like a blanket over the whole thing. But this Caesar was probably one of the best I've ever had. It was so good I literally didn't share it with anybody, I was like nope, I'm eating this whole thing by myself. The flavor, the pepper, the anchovies, the lemon, everything was so perfectly balanced. Even the waitress was super sweet and told me if I needed a salad, as basic as it sounds, the Caesar is the go to. She was absolutely right, phenomenal salad. We also got the beef marrow tartare dip thing that came with potato chips. It was good, nothing too crazy to say about it honestly. The Parker House rolls though, those we got as a side and they came out buttery, juicy, and just really good. The truffle came right through, these were phenomenal and absolutely a must have to go along with that Caesar. Then there's the bacon, which sounds crazy, it's literally just called bacon and it's this fat thick four inch slab, one single piece, and it was so so so good. I was absolutely shocked by it. For my main I went with the forty day dry aged bone in New York strip. It was pretty dang good, wouldn't say I was completely blown away, but I have a hard time with steak places in general because I always compare them to how I make a steak at home, and I still think I can make a better one myself. That said, this was very good, great crunch and crisp on the edge, those nice burnt increased edges, seasoned perfectly, and a spot on medium rare, so no complaints there. For sixty bucks though I just have a hard time paying for it, even if it was very good. The one that stole the whole night, hands down and by far, was the dessert. I don't remember what it was called but it was like this pancake ice cream, buttery, gooey, delicious, light and airy heaven. I literally apologized at the table and said I'm going to eat this entire thing, and I did just that. It was awesome. The ambiance and decoration of this place is straight up fine dining, you can feel and see it, and they even have actual dry aged beef ribs on display which is really cool. Not bad at all. I'd recommend it as a high end spot, just not somewhere I'd go consistently since I can do better at home. But that dessert dish, whatever the heck it was, I would go back for that alone. Best dish of the night for sure. read more

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Incredible! Highly recommend the bread, super fluffy, perfect way to setup your meal. The Caesar salad had quality cheese that looked like snow. The service was definitely first class, making sure my water was always filled and questions regarding my menu were answered. We got the executive and the associate boards for a party of 6, had 3-4 side and definitely ate our fill. The pound cake and the chocolate cheesecake were fantastic. Only issues, the carrots were very glazed, we were hoping for a lightness/healthy side to help us justify all the food, it added to the savory rhythm. Also, can't do much about this, but very narrow walk ways when moving through, but once sitting you're more or less set. Great food place 8.6/10 read more

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07/18/2026: Recently came to Rare Society to celebrate my fiancé's birthday with a party of seven. We were seated upstairs, and booking our reservation through OpenTable was quick and easy. We were really excited to come back after having such an amazing experience last July when we celebrated his birthday. We couldn't wait to bring our friends and share one of our favorite steakhouses with them. The food was just as amazing as we remembered. We started with the Parker House Rolls and Bacon, then ordered both the Associate Board and Executive Board for the table. For sides, we had the Truffled Creamed Spinach, Potato Au Gratin, and Carrots. Everything was flavorful, perfectly cooked, and definitely the highlight of the evening. Unfortunately, the service was a huge letdown. Both the servers and waitstaff came across as curt, rushed, and completely disinterested. I understand it was a busy night, but that's not an excuse for making guests feel like an inconvenience. We had to repeatedly ask for our water glasses to be refilled, and overall, the service lacked the warmth and attentiveness you'd expect from a restaurant at this price point. As we were leaving, everyone in our group commented on how disappointing the service had been. It's such a shame because the food was excellent, but the poor service really put a damper on what was supposed to be a special birthday celebration. We're hoping this was just an off night because our previous visit was so memorable, but this experience definitely didn't live up to the standard we remembered. read more

We came here for a friends 40th bday and we were not disappointed. We had a group of 8, and normally I loathe large group dinners, but this was executed perfectly. Each server has multiple helpers, so it really makes the whole experience lovely. We had all the things. The steak board, the seafood, the starters, the salads. Each one was prepared in a really nice way. We didn't have one thing that wasn't truly spectacular. The sommelier was cool and friendly and approachable. The staff wasn't stuffy or pretentious. They were all just helpful. The setting is gorgeous. Very modern with mid-century touches everywhere. This is a great place for a date, for a nice night out, for an occasion worth celebrating. read more

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It's fitting that this is my first review as part of Yelp Elite. First, Very cool. Thank you for nominating me Yelp! Ok... Let's do this... I usually go to Laguna Beach or "north" of me when planning a special occasion meal. Going to San Clemente is something I do once in a while and usually it's the pier or window shopping the cute shops around the town. In fact, I have only eaten at two locations in San Clemente before Sunday night. Rare Society, a steak house, was my 3rd and it did not disappoint. Nestled in between those cute shops and other restaurants, I now want to try, is an unassuming building one wouldn't know was a restaurant at first. When we parked we didn't even know where to go to find the restaurant until we walked in between the building to the front and I turned around and saw the name on the marque above me. When I walked in, the vibe changed instantly. I forgot that I was in a beach town and was transported back in time to when men sat with cigars from the corner booth over looking everything happening around them. There were glass cabinets with aged meat hanging in them next to the check in area and a glass wall of wine just in front of check in. Looking around, the decor had a classic 50s New York feel to it. The bar was masculine and glamorous. I remember mentioning to one of our party that the restaurant was aptly named. It felt like a speak easy and was decorated in dark tones, glass and bronze, which added to the experience. Nothing was rushed. We were escorted up to the second floor, the bar is on the ground floor. The staff was friendly, informative and enjoyed telling the story of what was on the menu for that night. We had seven of us in our party, and we were given time to peruse the menu for starters and drinks. The wait was a little longer than I thought it might be but it fit the attitude and ambiance of the restaurant completely and we didn't mind. We talked and took in the sights and sounds. We had a corner booth and I remember looking out the window at a great view of the town. The drinks... We all ordered cocktails and even the mocktails for the teenagers looked like "real" cocktails. That is a nice touch. I usually drink espresso martini's and the only thing I noticed about the drinks was that my martini was smaller than the standard one I get elsewhere. They do not serve it in a regular martini glass, it is smaller. Everyone enjoyed their drinks and then we ordered a bottle of wine, which was very good. The starters... PARKER HOUSE ROLLS BACON WOOD GRILLED ARTICHOKE CRAB DIP WITH ASPARAGUS Absolutely delicious. We actually ended up ordering three of the parker house rolls. I had not had artichoke in a while and I couldn't stop eating it. The bacon was more like bbq. It comes in a slab and is tender and makes your mouth zing with the flavor. You can't go wrong with crab and asparagus. So good! The Entrees... We ordered THE EXECUTIVE . It comes with four different meat cuts on it and then the HALF ALL NATURAL FRIED CHICKEN as well. For the sides: POTATO AU GRATIN ROASTED MUSHROOMS WOOD FIRED BROCCOLINI MISO GLAZED CARROTS I am not exaggerating when I say we ate all of it. For Dessert: We had the wonderful chocolatey BROOKIE TART and I was also brought some ice cream on top of that because we were celebrating my birthday too. Let's just say, an espresso and the desserts were the perfect end to an awesome night. The whole experience was a great way to celebrate my daughter and her boyfriend's high school graduation. This is not a casual dining establishment. Plan toward the higher end of your budget. However, for a special occasion or just to pamper yourself, the experience is well worth it. read more

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Honestly I'm having trouble finding any faults here - from the parker rolls with truffle butter ( i love truffle and this didn't disappoint) to the ceasar salad ( probably the best I've ever had - they use tempura fried anchovies, excellent). We had the associate meat platter and all 3 meats were tasty and oh so tender (denver, filet and tri-tip) Each meat comes with an accompanying sauce. If i could find one suggestion I'd say that one of the sauces should be a chimichurri. We also had the whipped potatoes, miso carrots and truffle creamed spinach. All 3 were fantastic although the carrots got mixed reviews - some didn't like the heat (spice) but i thought they were really unique and delicious Finally be sure to save room for the butter-cake dessert. It was huge - easily shareable among 4 people read more

Rare Society - Associate platter - Steakhouses Near Me - San Clemente, California

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If you love steak, definitely get the steak boards. Yes, both of them. We have always loved the steak boards and always enjoyed the delicious drinks. We get our steak medium rare, and the chefs always get it right! We love this for date night, but we especially love coming here with friends to share steak with and have a great time. Dressy casual, but can be a cool place for date night. Love the decor. But the food, drinks, and the fast and courteous service makes this one of our top favorites! Also, we love how much cheese is on the Cesar salad. Best Cesar salad in the world. On busy nights, usually Fridays and Saturdays, it can be loud and having a reservation would be smart. Most nights, it's pretty easy to walk in and have a quiet conversation with your company. read more

Rare Society - Steak Board, medium rare perfection! - Steakhouses Near Me - San Clemente, California

Justess was our server and she was phenomenal! The whole dining experience was great. The aesthetic reminds me of Great Gatsby, everything is intentionally curated design-wise. We went family style with the steak charcuterie board for the table, which was so good, but I think the sides and dessert really made the meal!! The asparagus, broccolini, lobster mashed potatoes and onion rings were all incredible, as well as the Parker rolls. Butter cake and americanos for dessert - we definitely had leftovers to take home! It's a little pricier, so more of a celebratory dinner or special date night, but we will definitely be back! read more

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Review for their happy hour! I tried the burger with fries. The burger was cooked to our preference and juicy. The caramelized onion added so much flavor. It is served without fresh vegetables. But maybe some type of green like butter lettuce or arugula can help cut through the fat. I wish I had more of an appetite to try other menu items. It includes a hefty serving of crispy fries. The fries were almost too salty. But I will return to try their regular dinner menu. While sitting at the bar I noticed the bartenders attention to detail and recommendations. read more

Rare Society - Steakhouses Near Me - San Clemente, California

This review is based on the food ONLY. Not the service. Came here for my birthday dinner as it was a recommendation from someone. It's in downtown San Clemente which is a super cute area. The service was great but incredibly disappointed with the food. We're ordered the associate and a side of the mac and cheese. One of the cuts of meat was super salty and DO NOT order the Shell Mac. It was not good and tasted like wet towel. For the price I would think the quality of the food would be better. Our server, Mason was great! I just didn't care for the food. Will not be coming back, especially for how expensive it was. read more

Came here to celebrate our anniversary and we are so glad we did. Had a reservation for 6pm and arrived a bit early. We were seated right away, we were sat upstairs in the patio area which was very nice. Our server Mason was very attentive and right away brought us some water and took our drink order. We started with a couple of appetizers first we got the lamb lilipops they are sold by the piece so we ordered 3 and we also got the chorizo clams . To tell you that both of these were absolutely delicious! The lamb had this delicious Chimichurri sauce that you don't want to leave any of it on the plate because it's so flavorful. The clams were also so tasty with the chorizo and all of the different flavors in the broth. It came with two pieces of toast and I which it came with more so we could soak up all of the broth. Then we moved on to our main entree I went with the fillet mignon and my husband went with a Snake River Wagyu Denver steak and for our sides we went with roasted broccolini and potato au gratin with truffle oil. Both of our steaks were delicious and the sides were just the perfect combination to go with it. I can forget to mention that we also got a few cocktails and they were also good. We closed our dinner with a delicious and light crème brûlée. We left wanting to already come back and celebrate something else. Service was phenomenal both by Mason our server and Nathan ( I think that's was his name.) everyone else. It was a great anniversary dinner. read more

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Parking can be a bit difficult since most of it is street parking around the downtown area. There is a shared parking lot a little further down that's used by the library and nearby shops. The restaurant itself is beautiful inside and very nicely decorated. It's best to make a reservation before going. We ordered quite a few dishes: Caesar Salad, The Associate Board (four different meats with a variety of sauces), Snake River Farms Wagyu Denver, Ricotta Ravioli, Wood-Fired Broccolini, Potato Au Gratin, Butter Cake, and Bananas Foster Cheesecake. There were six of us, and since the plates are on the smaller side, we shared everything family-style so everyone could try a bit of each dish. The Caesar Salad was really good, especially the dressing, and I loved the pecorino. The Associate Board came with four different meats and several sauces (the waiter will discuss each board). I honestly couldn't tell the differences between the meats, but they were all tender and flavorful. The Snake River Farms Wagyu Denver was also delicious, though I actually preferred the meats from the board. The Ricotta Ravioli was tasty, especially with the sauce coating the pasta. The Potato Au Gratin was really good as well, and the black truffles added great flavor. For dessert, the Butter Cake was served warm and was good, but it was a bit too sweet for my taste. The Bananas Foster Cheesecake ended up being my favorite dessert. Overall, everything we tried was delicious, and the customer service was great! Recommendation(s): - Caesar Salad - The Associate Board (four different meats with a variety of sauces) - Snake River Farms Wagyu Denver - Ricotta Ravioli - Wood-Fired Broccolini - Potato Au Gratin - Butter Cake - Bananas Foster Cheesecake Service: 5/5 Tip(s): - Make reservations ahead of time - Parking can be difficult (street parking or a parking lot further down) - Dishes are quite small read more

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We were so excited to try this restaurant after hearing such great things, but unfortunately our experience was extremely disappointing. The food was decent, but honestly not nearly as amazing as we had expected based on the reviews. Don't waste your time on the asparagus or plain whipped potatoes, they were terrible the server raved about the Denver Wagyu and it was so hard to chew for being medium rare! The much bigger issue was what happened afterward--both of us became extremely sick after eating here. It completely ruined our evening and left us questioning the food quality and safety. We rarely leave negative reviews, but we feel it's important to share our experience so others are aware. We truly wanted to love this place, but we won't be returning. read more

Rare Society - Steakhouses Near Me - San Clemente, California

Oh my god!!! Rare Society was hands down the foodie highlight of our entire trip and it wasn't even close. We did the steak platter and it was genuinely one of the best things I've ever eaten!! Perfectly charred crust, gorgeous pink center, and served with three dipping sauces... plus roasted bone marrow on the side for those that like to indulge! I'm not a fan but everyone else loved it! Honestly the presentation alone on that round board was its own moment. Made it so much fun to share this way The cocktails were actually looked as good as they tasted as well! The whole vibe of the restaurant is warm and elevated. Perfect date night out! Service insanely good too! Our server was so sweet and made sure we were always happy! If you're anywhere near Solana Beach, this is a non-negotiable stop. Make a reservation, order the platter, and thank yourself later! read more

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Five stars for happy hour I came back here today for happy hour with one of my besties who is also a Yelper. We had a great time and had the sweetest waiter. The Brussels sprouts are out of this world delicious! It's a great deal and I highly recommend coming here between 4 and 5 PM every weekday! I'm coming back tomorrow for those delicious Brussels sprouts read more

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Every single dish was a 10/10, every cocktail we had was phenomenal. I loved where we were seated and the interior is beautiful. My fiancé and I were celebrating our seventh anniversary and I just happened to add anniversary to my OpenTable reservation, and the staff wrote and signed a card for us which was incredibly kind, and such a sweet touch. Lastly our server Lindsey was amazing! We'll absolutely be back soon. read more

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Rare Society is like dating done right. Service was unreal, shoutout to my amazing server, Hallie V., even took time out of her duties to be my personal photographer because my date couldn't find the right angle to make me look skinny. Thank you! The food was Amazing. $30 corkage fee for my own yummy wine? They didn't even make me feel broke. Started with the rolls: buttery, garlicky, fresh... instantly set the bar high. Lamb lollipops were just ok... needed a little oomph and excitement (we've all dated that guy). The Associate's Board was perfect for two and we were able to take some home. Wagyu cuts of bone marrow, tri tip, filet, and the Denver cut... basically what long-term commitment dreams are made of. Y'all don't sleep on this Denver cut. I promise you. The atmosphere inside is gorgeous, with tons of picture-perfect spot, basically the ultimate backdrop for a date (or your feed). Rare Society understood the assignment. Would absolutely go on a second date. read more

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Outstanding happy hour in san Clemente I loved the meatballs but the star is the burger made with apatty made with beef and bacon. Exceptional service crew tgat is both personable and very attentive read more

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Many chefs are venerated and followed restaurant to restaurant. But many managers who run "the front" that defines the dining experience need kudos as well. I have followed Josh Nelson who successfully ran Sapphire, Bloom and now Rare Society. It is nice to see this restaurant running on all cylinders. The decor is stunning and the food even better. Star dishes include bacon in a Korean spices, the Denver cut steak, braised carrots and mac and cheese. All stellar. Save room for the cheese cake with bananas Foster. read more

Rare Society - Josh greeting us - Steakhouses Near Me - San Clemente, California

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We recently visited Rare Society and we absolutely loved the food! Yes it's pricey, but a nice addition to San Clemente. Service was a bit slow, but they were surprisingly busy for a Wednesday evening. Service was overall good and the denver steak was one of the best steaks I've ever had. The hamachi was recommended to us and I'd give this dish a 3.5 out of 5. It was not as fresh as I would have expected and it was fairly small. The Caesar salad, side dishes and steaks were all 5 out of 5- Mac and cheese, onion rings, and mashed potatoes. Our server and back server were very nice, but seemed unable to keep up with how busy they were, perhaps they were a bit understaffed. The managers/ som on duty were fabulous and you could tell everyone genuinely cared about the level of service. We also love happy hour at this establishment. The burger for HH is phenomenal. Thank you for the excellent food and good service- we will be back. read more

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Rare Society is an absolute meat-lover's dream. Not only is the restaurant beautiful, but the food is outstanding, the service is impeccable, and you won't find a better steak here. I highly recommend the associate board, Maine lobster, oysters, Parker rolls, and mashed potatoes. The onion rings were fun, but after one or two, the flavor profile gets a bit old. The one item I'd skip is the miso carrots I wasn't a fan. And don't miss dessert. The bananas foster cheesecake was ridiculously good. I truly can't recommend this place enough. read more

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This is a gem in South Orange County. The decor is elegant and warm. Ocean views from some seats. We had wonderful seating upstairs with the view of the sun setting over the ocean. For those who cannot handle stairs, there is an elevator. The food was delicious. We tried several types of steaks, side dishes, and all of the desserts. Service was attentive and professional. Would recommend and return! read more

Rare Society - View from our table upstairs - Steakhouses Near Me - San Clemente, California

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We were looking for an elevated place to celebrate a birthday, and we found it. Rare Society was a great experience. We arrived and they gave our birthday girl a nice card signed by the staff wishing her a happy birthday. We then started with some drinks. I had the Wild Card, which was an excellent refreshing cocktail with a little kick. We had some appetizers: the Parker House Rolls (5/5) and the Caesar salad (5/5). For the main course, we went with the Executive, which was covered in a variety of meats (4/5). On the side, we had: Potato Au Gratin (6/5) and the miso glazed carrots (4/5 - really spicy). They gave us a complimentary dessert for the birthday. Overall great experience. Definitely recommend. read more

Rare Society - Parker House Rolls - Steakhouses Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Rare Society is so good we had to come back two times within a few months to celebrate birthdays here! Making reservations is made easy online but book in advance as desirable time slots may filled up quickly. I was seated on the second floor in a comfortable booth for my party of 5. Our server helped us get drinks started and opened our bottle of wine ($35 corkage fee). Since it was our second time here, we knew what we wanted to start with and tried new dishes as well. The executive steak platter was our main entree of choice and we added the salmon as well as the pork tomahawk. We chose the executive over the associate because it has more oz of steak overall. The ribeye cut was absolutely decadent and melted with every bite. The whipped potatoes were delish but my favorite had to be the mushrooms and broccolini. Both had a wonderful char/flame kiss to it and was a perfect pairing to our steak. The brookie tart ended our night and was a great sweet treat if you love chocolate. It was topped with chocolate ice cream and coffee espresso shavings. I'm not much of a coffee drinker but if this is up your alley, you will enjoy this pairing! Huge thanks to Rare Society's team for making this birthday celebration special and delivering a great night out. I can't wait to come back to celebrate more exciting nights. read more

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Impeccable dining service but with a chaotic happy hour. We were here for a birthday celebration. But we wanted to pregame for happy hour. Unfortunately we arrived some ten minutes past 4pm and all seats were taken. The host did say to say anywhere and we sat by the patio only to be told we cannot sit there. We left the birthday girl by herself. She wined and dined with neighborly stranger. And although she enjoyed herself, it wasn't our intention to dine separately while we waited in the rain. We walked around the neighborhood and came back 15 minutes later in the hopes of a seat. Then few minutes later while a table was available and I approached it, I was told it was reserved and it was for an existing party who were already seated. But what I wasn't impressed was at no attempt they tried seating us. The two people cleaning the table had no idea we were waiting ever since they were just opened. So I wanted to relay to management that there should be some kind of waitlist order in terms of first come first served. We went upstairs and ordered the executive board (consist of filet, strip, and ribeye with all the sauces) some asparagus, some Parker rolls, some mashed potatoes. BTW this place is elegantly dark with some art deco vibes. I'd like to say, kudos the the chef as he was behind the grill I heard. All were grilled perfectly medium rare and the asparagus was probably the best I've had for this vegetable. The meat was tender and not overly salted. The meat was a highlight and the cuts were same in size. Good knives skills for sure. We also had the pork belly, and that itself was a MUST. We did notice our food came out 15 minutes later than the table who ordered after us. But then again they had less food. Service upstairs was impeccable. It was a little slow for my liking but honestly it was more enjoyable this way. I couldn't remember our servers name but he was terrific. I don't really love the small water glasses but it was always refilled and never empty. I'd like to say the wines they have here from happy hour is a fine choice. I'm happy to say it pairs nicely with the steak. In the end we finished the night with a creme brulee and banana Foster cheesecake. Both terrific but the cheesecake wins for it's uniqueness just like the gochujang pork belly. We did ask to pack up the bones as I was intended to make a bone broth ramen on a rainy night. But that got thrown out and we were offered bone marrows to take home instead. This night was definitely a treat. It wasn't perfect but I've been wanting to come here for a long time and it didn't disappoint. Definitely a special occasion restaurant but if I didn't have to drive an hour, I'll be back here at 330pm to be first for happy hour. read more

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Micheal B and Andreas were perfection!!!! They were great. Customer service was beyond stellar. The food and drinks were on point. Deliciousness all around. The filet mignon has to be my favorite with the béarnaise. We came here to celebrate Christmas the day after. Place is clean. Love the presentation of everything. Caesar salad was great, so flavorful. Parking was ample. Lots of photo ops inside. Bar area looks so fun. We wanted dessert but could not fit it. The pickled onion rings were so good. I love this location. Beautiful place all around. Upstairs is gorgeous. Great customer service and delicious food always brings us back. We will definitely be back. Thank you Michael B and Andreas for a lovely night. Meats on the Associate: filet mignon, Waygu Tri-tip and Rib Eye. In addition there is bone marrow, onion, and their signature sauces: a salsa, steak sauce, Béarnaise, & a whipped tallow butter with sea salt. read more

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My wife and I went to Rare Society for our anniversary dinner and overall it was a l lovely experience. Starting with ambiance, while in a relatively small enclave in San Clemente, Rare Society is beautifully appointed. There are two covered patios and an indoor seating area on the second level. The steakhouse definitely gives off nice business dinner or date night vibes, but my wife and I did bring our baby, and they were very accommodating and family friendly. Service was great as well. We had an 8:15 appointment but arrived early and they made an effort to have us seated in a place that was accommodating to the baby early, which was much appreciated. The staff attending to the table were great and we never felt like we waited long for anything. Drinks were amazing. The Cadillac margarita was an especial highlight, and contained a generous pour of alcohol. In addition the wine list was approachable by the glass but had volume and diversity by the bottle. Food was generally good to great. The steak was (rightfully so) the standout. We got The Associate board and loved trying three different cuts of steak. The big surprise was the ribeye which was so rich and full of flavor. The other highlights were the hamachi crudo--which was delictiably spicy and cut thicker than typical--mushrooms, and Parker house rolls. The let downs were the potatos au gratin which were predominantly cheese (so much so people have asked me if the photo is of Mac and cheese) and the butter cake. Unfortunately for Rare Society, it is just down the street from Nick's and South of Nick's which dominate the butter cake scene. Rare Society's is okay, and made worse by the fact that it literally sits in a plate of sweet juices (not sure what it is) that makes the cake soggy. All in, Rare Society is a treat overall and comes at a high-but-reasonable price for a steakhouse. Expect $150pp or so with drinks, dessert, and apps. Ambiance; 4/5 Service: 5/5 Drinks: 4.5/5 Food: 4/5 Value: 3.5/5 Consistency: N/A read more

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Amazed g HAPPY HOUR at Rare Society! Extraordinary staff, cool vibe, delicious food and beautifully crafted yummy cocktails!!! Bravo!!! read more

Rare Society - Happy Hour!!!!!!! - Steakhouses Near Me - San Clemente, California

Been wanting to try this place and we finally get to. We went for happy hour. Their happy hour (HH) is available weekdays except on Tuesdays. HH is first come first serve and available at the bar area and on high top tables. Have high expectations as this place has good yelp rating. Unfortunately in general, this place is a bit of a letdown food wise. Most of what we ordered is salty. HH burger is good but salty. HH Harissa beef skewers were over seasoned as well. Also ordered HH half a dozen raw oysters. Half east coast and half west coast. I enjoyed the east coast ones more. The west coast ones are more briny. HH ahi tartare on the other hand is lacking in taste. I've had much better ones is several other places. Ambience is really nice. Dim and cozy and nicely decorated. Service is really good too. Glad we only tried the HH, as this is rated $$$$, I don't think it's worth the price. Unfortunately, don't see us coming back here anytime soon... or perhaps anytime. read more

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The ambiance is a high end dry-aged steakhouse in the beautiful beach of San Clemente so you get a mixture of ppl dressed for the occasion to tee shirts and sandals. I believe we saw another location in Santa Barbara as well so we wanted to try this one. It's definitely on the pricier side and it was mostly all decently flavored and cooked to me. The thick piece bacon of bacon as an app was actually cold in the center. This was a special occasion so we wanted to go somewhere like a more upscale steakhouse outside the Ruth Chris, Morton's, etc. but it left a lot to be desired. The dry aged steak, I couldn't tell you if it tasted any better and prolly could've used more salt. Service was pretty good, nothing to call home for but still attentive and friendly. All in all - was ok and glad I tried but it wouldn't be my steakhouse of choice for the future read more

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Wow! My wife and I were blown away by Rare Society. The service was top notch and everything we ate was cooked to perfection. For starters we had the Parker House Rolls, they came out in a skillet and tasted absolutely amazing. I had the Snake River Farms Wagyu Denver and My Wife had the Pacific Swordfish for dinner and we bought kept taking bite of each-others food. We were so impressed with the flavors and for a side we shared the Asparagus and Shell Mac both were hefty sizes and delicious. We would highly recommend this place and will return next time we are in area. read more

We attended the happy hour that is held weekdays from 4-6pm except for Tuesdays to softly introduce our see if our taste align with this place. Happy hour is on the tall bar chairs and tables only and is limited seating. Food - HH food has a decent variety of of pickings. Had the burger with fries, ahi tuna tartare, skewers, oysters. The burger was good but otherwise most were salty and the skewers were over seasoned. Service - they were good enough and attentive and food comes out fairly surprisingly fast. No complaints here. Ambiance - this has it going for them here in San Clemente. Nice vibe. Overall verdict - was looking forward to eating here but sorry to say it was underwhelming and overrated. I soooo wanted to like this place as I have seen this place from across the street every time we go to Nicks, which is one of our favs. I wanted the happy hour to introduce us to their profile, but honestly didn't jive with my taste. Sooo sad. On the flip side, we almost went to Nicks but their bar area was full, so we jetted home to cleanse our pallets with sweets to make up for ughhh. read more

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Great to have a nice steak house in San Clemente. Service is amazing. It's a large restaurant and multi levels and private rooms, so you can't go wrong with whatever you're looking for! read more

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Invited to dinner. It's best to make a reservation in advance. Accepts walk-ins.. however... you chance being able to sit at the bar. Upon arrival I contacted the restaurant and we spoke with Nate the Mgr. a friend spoke highly about the restaurant due to Nate making his way at every table asking all customers about their experience. Nate mentioned that once i arrive to ask for him.. we did he was pretty busy! Towards the end of the night he was standing next to us at the bar and did not say anything, again busy with customers and that is totally fine. Walking in you are greeted by the wine room to the right a view of what appears to be a large chandelier in the center of the bar area, and just right off to the left you are met with the aged steak refrigerator. It was a crazy night, but we were fortunate enough to have parking directly in front of the restaurant along with two available bar seats, your average noise of laughter and a variety of different conversations throughout. The hostess was not present only because the dining area closes at 9:30 but if you sit at the bar you're still able to have dinner and drinks. Greeted by Keith the bartender. Great guy, great customer service and friendly. We ordered all his favorites and he did not disappoint! Wood-fire lobster, steak platter, bread rolls, Linguini/shrimp scampi. All packed with great flavors. I will Admit, it surprised me that when the food was brought out, they actually place the utensils directly onto the bar top which hadn't been wiped down. That's something that I would change anything that a customer is going to utilize to touch food or used to eat, place utensils on a napkin. The French 75 was delicious. It seem to be short poured to me, but then again I'm not a professional bartender I just know I said keep them coming! Towards the end of the night we did see Nate the manager still at the end of the bar speaking with a customer and I wanted to say hi, but again completely engaged in another conversation and that is completely fine. We didn't have the opportunity for Nate to stop by where we were sitting and inquire about our experience, we will definitely be back again to experience the happy hour from 4 to 6 and the bone marrow it melted before we could even try it Lastly, I'm sure that all the bartenders are amazing. However, Keith checked on us constantly anytime he said, thank you, he said my pleasure, and he assisted us with packing up our leftovers. I just appreciate the attention to detail, and that's what stood out the most about Keith!!!! read more

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Amazing atmosphere great food and the drinks insane ! We have been here so Many time and it is always superb. Love the oysters, lobster Mac and cheese and every entree is perfect. You cannot go wrong. Best part martinis and master mixologist Keith kills it every time! Thank you for always creating a wonderful experience. read more

It was the best meal I've ever had! It was so good. If I could change anything I would add a little less salt on the bread rolls. Lucia was my waitress and she was the best! (Emma, 10 years old, Alicia's daughter) read more

The steak and sides were good, but the overall experience was disappointing. We had immediate stomach issues after eating, which was concerning. Later that evening, we returned to the restaurant and were shocked to see roaches crawling all over the front of the building. After reading through the restaurant's health inspection reports, it's clear there have been health violations related to roaches, making what we saw seem like part of an ongoing problem rather than a one-time occurrence. Good food can only make up for so much, cleanliness and food safety matter just as much. read more

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The food in ambience was absolutely amazing! Our server was incredible so friendly and more than willing to take photos for my birthday. Thank you so much for making my day so incredible! I do have to mention that if you do bring in a cake, they do charge you a cake fee which I wish I would have known about. read more

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Service and food were absolutely excellent. Wine and cocktails were delicious. Ambiance is a 10. I can't decide if the interior or patio seating is better- both have their charm depending on which vibe you're going for. We tried the ribeye, miso glazed carrots, hamachi crudo, truffle potatoes au gratin and butter cake . The truffle potatoes were a bit heavy but that's expected. Would love to go back if we're in town again. read more