In all the years I’ve been writing about restaurants I’ve never attended a city ‘Restaurant Week’. That changed when I traveled less than forty minutes from Anaheim, freeway 91 to 57 to 10 and arrived in an amazing location known as Claremont. This year it was held in January. Unfortunately I believe many write this city off as a college town not realizing it as a true destination spot.
I check into my hotel, Double Tree by Hilton-Claremont, then out for a walking tour of the area. As you begin your walk you soon learn this isn’t just another community, it’s almost family, inviting us to drop by and have some good eats and fun. This truly is America at its finest. I discover a place with a disgusting name, adjacent to the hotel. It’s called PianoPiano. This is a very adult location filled with live music, comedy, creating tons of laughter and featuring dueling piano’s, hence its name. Clever yes?
The next morning we tour the area and discover specialty restaurants and shops. The offerings include, bagles, pastries, finger sandwiches, candies, coffee’s, teas, wine and oils…did I mention scotch? You guessed it a store that specializes in Scotch, oils and unique mixtures that come from around the world as well as here in the city.
We tried Tutti Mangia Italian Grill and literally were blown away by the food, its presentations all topped off with a team of servers that offered service absolutely unlike anywhere else. None of us could think of any location in California that offered such perfectly choreographed service. By the way they make one of the best Gin Gibson’s I’ve ever had.
While visiting Claremont we experienced stuffed dates and figs, Scallops, Escargot,
Jalapeno Bomb, Watermelon Salad, Soft Shell Crab Taco and a Rosemary Infused Lamb Rack.
We visited Packing House Wines, they offer over fifteen hundred wines and because this town works so closely together, you can tell the staff here where you plan to eat and they will pair your wines for dinner if the restaurant doesn’t serve what you desire. They offer tastings and you could spend hours browsing. Wine questions? Ask Sal Medina the proprietor. He can guide you easily thru the maze of wines. It’s an amazing store but difficult to explain.
The Folk Music Center is yet another highlight
as was my walk thru the city’s Botanical Garden and Butterfly Pavilion. Walking shoes, sun-screen, bottled water, a hat and a camera should be all you need and you’ll find benches shaded by huge trees along the walk.
You’ll find trash receptacles everywhere in the city but you will not find one parking meter.
I mention a small lists of the things you can do beside dine…did I mention live theatre productions? I do so because coming to Claremont just for dinner you do yourself an injustice. It is a destination, hometown style, as you walk the streets, greeted by locals and browsing the shops in the village you get the feeling that you are truly welcome. It is just minutes from almost anywhere in Southern California, freeway close, yet so relaxing, interesting and fun.
There’s one more item that must be mentioned. Claremont has a Chamber Of Commerce that really knows the city, the people and places, to wine, dine, relax, shop and stay. They are easy to find and eager to welcome you anytime you just want to escape to another area, close by but a world apart at least it seems to me from where I sit.