Fratello's Italian Kitchen Bar

647 Camino De Los Mares #126, San Clemente, CA 92673, United States
+1 949-661-5200
$$$ Italian restaurant , Banquet hall , Bar
(289 Reviews)
Price Range $20–30

Fratello's Italian Kitchen & Bar offers a classic Italian dining experience right in the heart of San Clemente. This spot feels welcoming and suited for a variety of occasions, whether you’re looking for a casual dinner, a lively night out at the bar, or a comfortable space for larger gatherings thanks to their banquet hall facilities.

The atmosphere strikes a balance between lively and relaxed. You’ll find a well-kept interior with an inviting bar area that doesn’t get overwhelming loud, making it a good choice for families as well as groups of friends. Its dog-friendly patio also adds a laid-back, neighborhood-friendly vibe, especially appealing on sunny California days where you can enjoy your meal outside with your pup by your side.

When it comes to food, the menu covers hearty, familiar Italian dishes that lean into comfort and generous portions. Standouts include traditional lasagna, Chicken Marsala, and homemade-style pastas like their Gnocchi Fratello, rich with asiago cheese in a vodka cream sauce. The fresh bruschetta and crisp Italian subs make good lighter options, while the thick crust pizza loaded with pepperoni and sausage helps satisfy those craving something more casual. The cannoli for dessert completes the meal with a touch of sweetness that feels intentionally old-school and satisfying.

Fratello's is clearly popular for group events as well, with easy-to-navigate preset menus helping hosts prepare for gatherings without fuss. Their back room comfortably accommodates larger parties, making it a reliable venue for birthdays, family celebrations, or work dinners.

Service tends to be attentive and friendly, with staff who know how to manage both small and bigger groups with ease. The bread and garlic toast are often mentioned as highlights, setting a good tone while you wait for your main course.

As for timing, evenings during the week or weekend nights work well to catch the full bar and dining room energy, while daytime visits on weekends provide a quieter, sunlit option—perfect if you want to bring the family or meet friends in a lower-key setting.

Overall, Fratello's Italian Kitchen & Bar serves up familiar Italian comfort with local touches, a family- and dog-friendly patio, and enough flexibility to fit both intimate meals and bigger celebrations in San Clemente’s restaurant scene.

Highlights
Has fast service
Has great beer selection
Serves great cocktails
Serves great dessert
Has great wine list
Good for watching sport
Popular for
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
What they serve
Serves alcohol
Serves beer
Serves cocktails
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Serves food
Serves happy-hour drinks
Serves happy-hour food
Quick bite
Serves small plates
Serves spirits
Serves vegetarian dishes
Serves wine
Best for
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Has catering
Serves dessert
Has seating
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Plenty of parking

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Tuesday

11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Wednesday

11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Thursday

11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Friday

11:00 AM - 10:30 PM

Saturday

11:00 AM - 10:30 PM

Sunday

11:00 AM - 9:30 PM

289 Reviews
Kevin Crump

07 Jan 2026

I don't know how this place isn't rated at 5 stars. I've taken my family of 5 here several times and every time I walk out thinking I've just eaten the best Italian food ever. I'm finally writing a review because we just had a party in their back room for 35 people. They have pre set menu options for groups which made it very easy to setup the pretty. And once again after having 2nd's of the baked ziti I was walking out thinking my God this is the best I've ever had. This time I made several of them pose for pictures and told them I'm going to post this review just go, you're welcome!

Lisa HD

22 Dec 2025

Loved the ambience and the food at this place. We were looking for a dog friendly place and this was a perfect place with a cute patio. The wine selection was fine and the food tastes like good old comfort Italian. Overall, a good place to have a comfort meal.

Zack Wald

29 Nov 2025

This restaurant is fantastic. We came in last night with a small party to celebrate for my mom's birthday. Service was fantastic. Food was fantastic. I can't speak highly enough about this restaurant. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anybody who's looking for a great Italian meal and a fun atmosphere. Seriously try this place out.

Peyton Walker

28 Nov 2025

Very good service, Cole is a great waiter. The portions are insanely large (2+ servings per dish) and the bread was amazing. Definitely suggest!!

Jason Beam

21 Nov 2025

We found this place online just looking for an Italian restaurant, open on New Year’s Day, and came across this place. It was about 1/2 way between Pasadena and San Diego. The front desk was friendly, and our table of 6 was seated quickly. We were seated in the back a little, away from the bar area. We appreciated that with two young teens in our group, but the bar area was not that loud at all, if you wanted to sit in that area. A server got us some water and bread immediately, and a waitress came right after to answer questions and take our order. We could smell the aroma of good food in the place and we were hungry, so the waitress had some suggestions for us and we even had some special requests, including gluten free, that were taken. The food came out nice and hot, and looked and smelled delicious. All 6 orders were spot on, and they were all delicious. We could not have been more pleased with our choice to stop and dine here. If you are a local or passing through, please check this place out. If we lived close by, we would come here regularly. I can say that for sure. Nice place, good atmosphere, great staff and amazing, well priced food. Big portions also. And the music was awesome. Some light classic rock, with some nice 70s and 80s stuff mixed in

Allison Mason

14 Nov 2025

Comfortable restaurant with great staff. The food was terrific, I got a chicken Parmesan with pink sauce and the chocolate cake. Family members love the steak and pizzokies as well!

Jennifer Graham

26 Oct 2025

Extremely friendly service and very accommodating to us with a wheel chair! food was great. The fettuccine Alfredo was amazing. There Alfredo sauce was some of the best i have had, including in i Italy! My husband got the lasagna, he felt like it was standard.

Jayme A

12 Sep 2025

It’s hard to find the small sign outside of the restaurant. That usually means it’s a great place! Once you walk in, hostess is very attentive. We sat next to the bar. The owner, Joe, is all over the restaurant. He is making sure people have exactly what they need. He did not introduce himself as the owner, my boyfriend did his research and spotted Joe from a mile away. We did not stress or even take time to think of what we needed. The only downfall was that my boyfriend ordered a bottle of Decoy (did not specify) and I Let it roll because I assumed the only Decoy offered was the merlot. Our waiter came back with a white wine bottle but it was not presented, tasted or etc. therefore it was already opened and poured before we could stop him. It was a fowl on both parties. Luckily, we drink both red and white, we enjoyed the bottle we had received to not start a fuss. All in all, it was evident this spot has MANY regulars and after eating there we can see why. The ambiance with the candle on the table is divine. If we lived here we were return very, very soon.

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