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Gema, San Clemente, CA

Gema

4.3
4.3
243 Reviews
$31 to $50
Contemporary Mexican

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 4 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Good for special occasions
  • Innovative
With a moody Mexico City vibe & modern dining room, Gema has an intimate neighborhood feel & buzzy bar scene. Our scratch-made kitchen highlights the finest Mexican ingredients & the countries staples of corn, chiles & regional cheeses .Our craft cocktail program changes with the season & features house-made syrups & fresh daily juiced citrus. Our bar hosts over 100 bottles of Mexico's finest small batch Mezcals which can be enjoyed in a flight or purchased by bottle and housed for your convenience inour Mezcal Liabrary. Our wines are brought in from Valle de Guadaulape and offer an amazing taste into the emerging Baja wine region. Gema celebrates the vast & sophisticated cuisine of Mexico, its people & its culture. We are proud to serve authentic Mexican cuisine that moves beyond the stereotypical bean and rice culture often associatedwith Mexican eateries. We hope you join us at Gema to experience the true palate of Mexican dining.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary Mexican, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Organic
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Thu, Sun 17:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00 La Libreria Thu–Sun 18:00–00:00
  • Phone number
    (714) 640-9371
  • Website
    http://www.Gemarestaurant.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Juan Pablo Cruz
  • Location
    110 S El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA 92672
  • Area
    San Clemente
  • Cross Street
    El Camino Real and Del Mar
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • End of Year Dinner

    USD 150.00 per person

    Prepaid

    31 Dec 2024 only
    With a moody Mexico City vibe & modern dining room, Gema has an intimate neighborhood feel and buzzy bar scene. Our scratch-made kitchen highlights the finest Mexican ingredients and showcases the true palate of Mexican dining. Sit back, relax, sip some mezcal and allow our team to ensure your evening becomes the most pleasant way to end 2024! Reservations are set at $125 pp with a curated 4-course pre-fixe dining menu & complimentary champagne toast. Hand crafted cocktails, mezcal pairings & wine pairings will be available to enhance your experience & can be selected & purchased upon arrival. * Please indicate vegetarian/allergies in reservation notes * * There is no vegan option for this experience.
    End of Year Dinner photo

Menu

Primeros

  • Chalupas

    duck enchilado, salsa tatemada, swiss chard mix, queso fresco, melipona vinaigrette

    • Lengua de Res

      beef tongue, jalapeno broth, avocado, jardin mix, grasshopper salt

      • Calamar al Comal

        chile manzano salsa, citrus reduction, chard broccoli, jicama

        • Ostiones Fundidos

          half dozen oysters, chile mora, quesillo cheese, cream foam

          • Aguachile

            seafood of the day, costeno aguachile, salicornia, worm salt

            • Camarones Flameados

              grasshopper creme, charred heirloom tomato, corn croutons, macadamia dust, sorrel mix

              Segundos

              • Pear Salad

                farmers market greens, blood orange vinaigrette, house hibiscus cheese, castilla walnuts

                • Acelga Salad

                  rainbow swiss chard, lima beans, queso fresco, garlic vinaigrette, duck chicharron

                  • Sopa de Tortilla

                    duck leg confit, chile mirasol broth, corn cake, celery leaves

                    • Chile Relleno

                      hazelnut dust, quesillo cheese, huitlacoche, quail egg, tomato espuma

                      • Cachetes de Ternero

                        veal cheeks, guajillo adobo, garbanzo beans, kale, red jalapenos

                        • Quesadilla de Wagyu

                          wagyu steak, quesillo cheese, cambray onions, salsa quemada

                          Principales

                          • Pescado a la Talla

                            wild branzino, cascabel salsa, citrus, salicornia, serrano rice

                            • Tlalpeno de Mariscos

                              shellfish mix, chipotle broth, jardin vegetables, avocado

                              • Tamal de Brocoli

                                banana leaf, garlic pipian, poblano rajas

                                • Mole con Pato

                                  duck breast, black mole, fennel puree, black mission figs

                                  • Birria de Res

                                    prime short rib, corn cake, chile guajillo glaze, cambray onion confit, jardin mix

                                    • Wagyu Steak

                                      A-7 American filet, scalloped potatoes, tamarindo adobo, purslane salad

                                      • Tomahawk Steak (To Share)

                                        48oz prime cut, huitlacoche butter, scalloped potatoes, calabacitas, tamarindo adobo

                                        Acompanamientos

                                        • Calabacitas

                                          tatuma squash, heirloom tomato, duck chicharro

                                          • Serrano Rice

                                            serrano infusion, garlic butter

                                            • Garbanzos

                                              swiss chard stems, guajillo adobo, scallions

                                              • Artisan Heirloom Tortillas

                                                yellow corn, blue corn, white corn, hoja santa

                                                Last updated: 26 January 2023

                                                What 243 people are saying

                                                Overall ratings and reviews

                                                Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

                                                4.3
                                                4.3 based on recent ratings
                                                • 4.4Food
                                                • 4.6Service
                                                • 4.3Ambience
                                                • 3.8Value

                                                Noise • Moderate

                                                Loved For

                                                • Orange County

                                                  Innovative

                                                • Orange County

                                                  Contemporary Mexican

                                                • South Orange County

                                                  Innovative

                                                • South Orange County

                                                  Romantic

                                                • South Orange County

                                                  Good for special occasions

                                                Review summary

                                                AI-generated from verified diner reviews
                                                Gema in San Clemente offers a "fantastic culinary experience" with inventive Mexican cuisine and an open-air ambiance. The menu is "innovative and beyond delicious," featuring standout dishes like the halibut ceviche and Tlayuda. While some guests note long waits and high prices, the "knowledgeable staff" and "awesome cocktails" make it a must-try destination.

                                                243 Reviews

                                                1. Alessia

                                                  VIP

                                                  Phoenix

                                                  8 reviews

                                                  3.0

                                                  8 reviews

                                                  Dined 1 day ago

                                                  1. Overall 3
                                                  2. Food 5
                                                  3. Service 4
                                                  4. Ambience 3
                                                  Food was delicious, but… This place is a little too foofy with the cuisine. It’s my fault I didn’t review the menu before coming (figured it was similar to Tamarindo which was there before). But it’s a Mexican place and you can’t even get chips and salsa? We dine at high end restaurants all the time so I’m not exactly pedestrian, though I felt like it here. Very limited mocktail options too. “Mocktails” are juices despite a fabulous looking cocktail program. I asked if any of the drinks could be made into a mocktail and got the whole “they’re crafted to be perfectly balanced” type of line. It’s nearly 2025 and lots of folks no longer drink. Disappointing. They were out of NA beer too. Server was attentive and knowledgeable. Food was truly delicious, but I left still hungry. For five of us, including a kid and a non drinking adult, our bill was nearly $500 with tip. The value wasn’t there in my opinion.

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                                                2. Matteo Romano

                                                  Orange County

                                                  9 reviews

                                                  5.0

                                                  9 reviews

                                                  Dined on 8 December 2024

                                                  1. Overall 5
                                                  2. Food 5
                                                  3. Service 5
                                                  4. Ambience 5
                                                  Incredible food made by scratch. The flavors and textures of the food were so unique and so delicious! Cocktails and wine all from Mexico. Entire staff is so passionate about the food!

                                                  1 person found this helpful

                                                3. Nikki

                                                  VIP

                                                  Palm Springs

                                                  1 review

                                                  5.0

                                                  1 review

                                                  Dined on 24 November 2024

                                                  1. Overall 5
                                                  2. Food 5
                                                  3. Service 5
                                                  4. Ambience 5
                                                  Our dinner was more than a meal; it was an experience. The flavors and presentation will both be remembered. The ambiance was beautiful, and the service was next level. Lucca was attentive, helpful, knowledgeable, and passionate about the food. Can't wait to return!

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                                                4. Darren

                                                  VIP

                                                  Los Angeles

                                                  4 reviews

                                                  1.0

                                                  4 reviews

                                                  Dined on 23 November 2024

                                                  1. Overall 1
                                                  2. Food 4
                                                  3. Service 1
                                                  4. Ambience 4
                                                  Our server was really good, I want to make that clear. Reason for my poor rating was we waited almost 90 minutes for our food to finally just ask them to make it To Go as we weren’t willing to sit there any longer as we had a 2 year old with us and spending 90 minutes in a restaurant waiting for our food was too much to ask.

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                                                5. Laurie

                                                  Orange County

                                                  22 reviews

                                                  2.0

                                                  22 reviews

                                                  Dined on 23 November 2024

                                                  1. Overall 2
                                                  2. Food 2
                                                  3. Service 5
                                                  4. Ambience 5
                                                  I’m amazed at all the great reviews. We ordered six different things on this menu, and all four of us agreed that the flavors just weren’t there. The food is way overpriced and our swordfish was cold. The service was really good, but it didn’t make up for the mediocre food. Save your money and go somewhere else .

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                                                6. Debra

                                                  VIP

                                                  Orange County

                                                  11 reviews

                                                  5.0

                                                  11 reviews

                                                  Dined on 17 November 2024

                                                  1. Overall 5
                                                  2. Food 5
                                                  3. Service 5
                                                  4. Ambience 4
                                                  Excellent service & food as well’ But wine choices are debatable— Only one Mexican Chardonnay available & not good!

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                                                7. Eric

                                                  Orange County

                                                  1 review

                                                  5.0

                                                  1 review

                                                  Dined on 19 October 2024

                                                  1. Overall 5
                                                  2. Food 5
                                                  3. Service 5
                                                  4. Ambience 5
                                                  Gema is quite possibly the best fine Mexican restaurant in San Clemente. The food options are gluten free, the fish and meat are delicious & fresh, the wine and tequila selection is top notch without the top line price! Definitely recommend Gema for an evening out with family and friends.

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                                                8. Steve

                                                  VIP

                                                  Orange County

                                                  24 reviews

                                                  5.0

                                                  24 reviews

                                                  Dined on 18 October 2024

                                                  1. Overall 5
                                                  2. Food 5
                                                  3. Service 5
                                                  4. Ambience 3
                                                  Wonderful food! Especially for those tired of Mexican street food being treated as real Mexican dinner food. This is the kind of great food that you get it at high-quality restaurants in Mexico. Real nice serving staff too. 

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                                                9. Joshua

                                                  VIP

                                                  Orange County

                                                  5 reviews

                                                  5.0

                                                  5 reviews

                                                  Dined on 28 September 2024

                                                  1. Overall 5
                                                  2. Food 5
                                                  3. Service 5
                                                  4. Ambience 5
                                                  San Clemente is truly fortunate to have Gema, a refreshing departure from the usual South of Nick's Mexican fare. It’s a treat for the senses, offering inventive flavors and fresh, vibrant ingredients that bring something excitingly different to the table. Gema is a hidden gem that deserves far more buzz in South Orange County's food scene—impressive in every way and absolutely worth the visit for anyone seeking a delicious, novel dining experience.

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                                                10. Linda

                                                  VIP

                                                  Orange County

                                                  263 reviews

                                                  5.0

                                                  263 reviews

                                                  Dined on 22 September 2024

                                                  1. Overall 5
                                                  2. Food 5
                                                  3. Service 5
                                                  4. Ambience 5
                                                  Service is always amazing & personal. They do take their time to explain each item but I don’t mind it here. We have tried most items & never had a bad meal. A little pricy but value is there

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                                                FAQs

                                                Gema is rated 4.3 stars by 243 OpenTable diners.

                                                Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

                                                Make a booking

                                                2 people
                                                7:00 pm
                                                Booked 4 times today
                                                Experiences are available.
                                                Google Map for Gema

                                                110 S El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA 92672

                                                Additional information

                                                • Cross Street
                                                  El Camino Real and Del Mar
                                                • Area
                                                  San Clemente
                                                • Hours of Operation
                                                  Dinner Thu, Sun 17:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00 La Libreria Thu–Sun 18:00–00:00
                                                • Price
                                                  $31 to $50
                                                • Cuisines
                                                  Contemporary Mexican, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Organic
                                                • Dining style
                                                  Fine Dining
                                                • Dress code
                                                  Casual Dress
                                                • Parking details
                                                  Street Parking
                                                • Payment Options
                                                  AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
                                                • Executive Chef
                                                  Juan Pablo Cruz
                                                • Additional
                                                  Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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