Restaurants in Claremont

The sushi chefs at Tokyo Japanese Restaurant carefully craft 25 specialty rolls alongside artfully composed noodle, teriyaki, and tempura dishes. Well-versed in sushi-rolling variations, the chefs pass on their culinary knowledge during beginners' sushi-making classes where participants give their creations delicious-sounding names such as Phoenix or My First Rice Sandwich.

Julie Yanni-Cannataro spent much of her childhood working alongside her parents in their Italian restaurant, mastering the recipes from her family's ancestral home of Calabria in Italy. After years of practicing her craft at home, her family pushed her to realize her dream of opening up a restaurant of her very own. At Cannataro's Italian Restaurant, Julie now shares her culinary expertise and beloved home-cooked meals with the general public, dishing out wholesome, hearty feasts of roasted salmon, rib-eye steaks, and tender baked chicken drizzled with creamy lemon and marsala sauces. Her pizza chefs create fresh dough each day, firing pies topped with bacon, chicken, pesto, and fresh tomatoes in a stone deck oven. An accessible progressive wine list arranges wines by taste characteristics rather than vintage or region, letting diners know which full-bodied red would pair well with a spicy pasta, or which dry white would be perfect for blowing bubbles.

A rustic, adobe-colored building with a roof of clay tiles welcomes visitors to the restaurant, whose white garden latticework intertwined with vines and tucked-away alcoves roofed with cozy arches host romantic interludes and boisterous family gatherings alike.

The cool air and sunshine on Renee’s Fish & Soul Food’s outdoor patio may be a far cry from the thick humidity of the South, but the restaurant’s fried and grilled comfort fare never fails to invoke the tastes and smells of a true Southern kitchen. Whether out on the patio or enjoying the shade of the dining room, guests can catch whiffs of lunch specials, such as fried buffalo fish and three-piece chicken wings, and dig into dinners paired with Southern sides, such as yams, black-eyed peas, and corn bread. On weekends, chefs tackle the Southern art of barbecue, simmering chicken and ribs in tangy sauce and holding them above napkins to create expressionistic drip paintings.

Peacock Garden’s executive chef Gurpreet Singh—who carries a James Beard Foundation win under his belt—calls upon his culinary expertise to curate a menu of spice-laden sauces, colorful curries, and tender tandoori. Creamy kormas and masalas flecked with spices can all be accompanied by a variety of proteins, such as goat, lamb, seafood, and chicken. Vegetable dishes mingle cheeses and cream with bunches of cauliflower, slices of roasted eggplant, lentils, or beans. The richness found in Peacock’s dishes can also be found in its ambiance—gilded, velvety chairs, gold trim, and plush drapery let guests dine regally sans ill-fitting crown and surcoat.

The Mt. Baldy Lodge has stood beneath the shadow of Old Baldy Mountain for generations, drawing visitors with its snug wood cabins, recreational facilities, and rustic steak house. A frosty blanket of snow covers the surrounding pines and hiking trails, but inside the restaurant’s lively dining room, there are a roaring fireplace and plates of sizzling steaks, juicy burgers, and freshly baked cinnamon rolls. Taxidermy elk and buffalo heads speckle the handsome wood walls and keep score for those playing pool. The restaurant hosts special events throughout the month, including karaoke and live performances from a variety of musicians, including local piano players.

Bombay Restaurant Cuisine of India's authentic northern Indian dishes simmer in an 800-degree tandoor buried in sand for insulation. Within the clay oven's curved, scorching walls, dough bakes into delicious hunks of indian bread, and meats roast on the oven's hot charcoal bed after soaking in yogurt and a special Indian spice blend for 24 hours. Cuts of fish, chicken, lamb, and quail emerge from the tandoor dressed according to each diner's preferred spice level, ranging from mild to volcanic.

When they aren't loading up the oven, chefs concoct other Indian dishes such as lobster medallions braised with rare herbs and shredded cheese cooked in ginger and tomato sauce. A stock of beverages, including Indian tea, mango lassis, and Indian lagers, is on hand to complement meals.