Tannins Restaurant & Wine Bar

Tannins is a great little restaurant on Ortega Highway in San Juan Capistrano. It’s an Italian place, and it’s one of San Juan’s best-kept secrets,... more

Tannins is a great little restaurant on Ortega Highway in San Juan Capistrano. It?s an Italian place, and it?s one of San Juan?s best-kept secrets, known for good food and a huge selection of wine. One of my favorite aspects of this place is that there?s a second little kitchen dedicated solely to making their amazing pizzas. I?m not talking about New York or Chicago style here, it?s really more of an authentic Italian feel. Thin, crispy crust, and relatively simple toppings. Tannins delivers these pizzas, and while they are not as cheap as Domino?s or Pizza Hut, this pizza is on another level. It?s completely worth it. The rest of the menu is equally impressive. My personal favorite item is a salmon spinach salad. It?s got this awesome chopped dressing with tomatoes and capers and olive oil?it?s tangy and salty and delicious in just the right way. The salmon has perfect charring and is a little crispy on the outside, but moist and flavorful inside. The staff at Tannins is attentive and helpful when it comes to wine selection. They really want you to have the perfect pairing of food and drink. The bar is intimate and cozy, and Tannins has an award-winning happy hour, with elegant nibbles and perfectly-composed drinks. This is a small, local spot, and it really deserves to get more recognition! more

I thought this place was a trip. The entire wine list is served in 1/2 and full glasses, how many wine bars do you know that serve little tastes of every wine behind the bar, great! The food was satisfying, the chef had me rolling out of there, and the service was friendly and tentative. It's true that the music isn't the best, it's a nice little jazz band. One question... how would anyone ever get a table if the music was awesome. Smart business man that owner, whom ever he/she may be. more

Great concept. TERRIBLE FOOD. TERRIBLE SERVICE. And TERRIBLE music playing in the background. (I.e. Paula Abdul and the Village People?!) I thought this place had great potential until the waiter had to come back twice to confirm our simple wine order and arbitrarily included chicken in our vegetarian pasta order. The arbiatta sauce tasted like it was fresh out of the can with some garlic and red pepper flakes. If I decide to go back (which I doubt), I would stick to just ordering wine (not even a salad, they messed that up too). Overpriced. more