Located in the heart of downtown San Juan Capistrano, this restaurant boasts a rich history: parts of the building date back to the 1790s, and former President Richard M. Nixon dropped by regularly both during and after his time in office. Nixon's presence is still felt here --- there's a table and chair dedicated to him in the sprawling, airy environs, and his love for the special Mexican food prepared exclusively for him led the place to permanently switch its cuisine from continental to its current milieu. The classically prepared Mexican offerings fit well with the hacienda-style ambience, not to mention the house-made margaritas. Expected dishes like tacos, burritos, carnitas and enchiladas share the menu with specialty items like honey chipotle-glazed salmon, boneless half-chicken with mole sauce, and shrimp topped with garlic cream sauce. Desserts are a mix of Mexican standards and Southwestern delights (think sopapillas). If you're nearby on a Sunday, stop in and peruse the extensive brunch menu.
