Great Restaurants of Southern California
Capistrano’s Restaurant
Award-winning Continental Cuisine is the main attraction at Capistrano’s. Other attractions include the Spanish-Mediterranean decor, the arcaded courtyard, the waterfalls and koi streams, the lush palms and flowers, the fountain entwined in pothos vines and the Pacific Ocean breeze.
The beach, with its view of the Channel Islands in the near distance, is only a few steps away for a romantic after-dinner stroll. But- back to the food! Executive Chef Tom O'Brien comes to Capistrano’s!
Chef Tom O'Brien started his career in the 1970's in the South Bay Area of Southern California honing his skills as a journey man cook in many notable restaurants on the California Coast. Tom's first Executive assignment was opening Oysters in Corona Del Mar, Newport Beach for Dr. Walt Babcock owner of Babcock Vineyards on the Central Coast and Walt's Warf in Seal Beach, CA. Before leaving the west coast in 1992 Tom worked with University Restaurant Group for two years, now know as King's Seafood, as Executive Chef for the 555 East Prime Steak House. Looking for a change, Tom was recruited to the Mid-Atlantic by the former corporate chef of University Restaurant Group to open the Blue Point Grill in Alexandria, VA, receiving top reviews in the Washingtonian and Washington Post. He was later recruited by John Q. Hammons Hotel Company, opening several hotels and resorts nation wide. In 1999 Chef Tom was the recruited by Gaylord Resorts accepting the assignment as director of Culinary Arts for Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, a 2800 room resort with 650,000 square feet of convention and meeting space. After two years, he decided to slow dwon the pace accepting a Chef position with Tween-Waters Inn, a Boutique resort on Captiva Island, SW Florida. With the unexpected arrival of hurricane Charles, Chef TOm found it necessary to make a career move after the Tween-Waters Inn was devastated by hurricane damage. Chef Tom then moved to Seattle, Washington accepting a position as Executive Chef for the Marriott Group, After three years and a lot of rain he decided to return to the Southern California area, accepting the position as Executive Chef for the Embassy Suites Resort at Mandalay Beach, Oxnard, CA.
Two elegant ballrooms are available for your special event (ideal for weddings!);
the semi private Wine Room accommodates smaller gatherings. The Cabana Lounge
offers entertainment and dancing every weekend. Sunday Champagne Brunch is a
luxurious event. “A Restaurant in a Hotel, Not a Hotel Restaurant”
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