El Adobe de Capistrano facts for kids
Quick facts for kids El Adobe de Capistrano |
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(2019)
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1948 |
| Current owner(s) | Richard O’Neill, Steve Nordeck, Tony Moiso, and Gilbert Aguirre |
| Food type | Mexican |
| Dress code | casual |
| Street address | 31891 Camino Capistrano |
| City | San Juan Capistrano |
| State | California |
| Postal/ZIP code | 92675 |
| Country | United States |
| Reservations | (949) 493-1163 |
| Website | Official Website: http://www.eladobedecapistrano.com/ |
El Adobe de Capistrano, often called El Adobe, is a popular restaurant in San Juan Capistrano, California. It opened its doors in 1948. The restaurant is special because it's built inside two very old and historic buildings called adobes. These buildings are close to the famous Mission San Juan Capistrano.
El Adobe is also well-known because a former U.S. President, Richard Nixon, loved to visit and eat there. He lived in a nearby town called San Clemente. This restaurant is recognized as a California Historical Landmark.
Contents
History of El Adobe Restaurant
The Old Adobe Buildings
The restaurant building is made up of two very old parts. The northern part was built in 1797. It was once the home of a person named Miguel Yorba.
The southern part was built later, in 1812. This section was called the Juzgado. A Juzgado was a place that served as a court and even a jail. Over the years, this part of the building was also used as a post office, a store, and a place where stagecoaches would stop.
Today, the old jail cell in the Juzgado is used as the restaurant's wine cellar. Some people say that this old jail cell might even have a ghost! There are also stories about a headless friar (a type of religious brother) seen outside the restaurant.
Combining the Properties
In 1910, a couple named Harry and Georgia Mott Vander Leck bought both of these old properties. They decided to combine them into one larger building. They also added new parts, called sunken wings, to both sections. They used the combined building as their home and a store.
Becoming a Restaurant
In 1946, a person named Clarence Brown bought the property. He had a vision to turn it into a restaurant. The El Adobe restaurant officially opened on July 8, 1948. Its very first event was a wedding and reception for General Fegan, who was the first leader of Camp Pendleton.
A few years later, in 1955, the restaurant was bought by the Fred Harvey Company.
President Nixon's Favorite Spot
Former President Richard Nixon visited El Adobe many times while he was in office. His home in San Clemente was known as the "Western White House."
When the restaurant first opened, it served "continental cuisine," which means food from different European countries. But after President Nixon made some comments, the restaurant became famous for its delicious Mexican food. Because of this, the menu was changed to focus on Mexican dishes.
See also
In Spanish: El Adobe de Capistrano para niños
