One of Orange County's best burger shacks is about to expand to a second location along the relatively barren stretch of road just off Ortega Highway in San Juan Capistrano.
Riders Club Café, the tiny, constantly-at-capacity San Clemente burger purveyor, will make its sophomore debut this summer. It's opening in the (apparently cursed?) space previously occupied by Café Cesar, in the shopping center that houses gastropub Public 74 and the Ortega Car Wash.
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Known for its elevated burger–made with endlessly juicy meat, house-made everything, fancy cheese and a buttery bun– the original Riders Club Café's menu is simple. Beyond the burger, the shack hawks little more than a carnitas sandwich and a salad, accompanied by chips and house-pickled beets. Owner Brian McGraw promises the same at the second location, with one addition: fries. The original shack doesn't have room for a fryer, McGraw says.
McGraw hopes to eventually expand Riders Club Café to locations throughout the county. As of now, however, he says he's too broke to think about that. Someone start a crowdfunding campaign so I don't have to trek to South County for my favorite burger!
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