Clara's Restaurant in Redlands

Clara's is the finished product of what started out as Vesuvio's which
burned down many, many years ago. It moved to it's present location,
giving diners not only a classy place to enjoy cocktails, but some
excellent gourmet Italian cuisine. About 10 years ago the name changed
to Clara's. I had never gone when it was Vesuvio's, but didn't care,
Clara's was no disappointment. I fell in love with their Chicken & Spinach
Ravioli's. I even wrote to Gourmet Magazine to see if they could persuade
them for the recipe. Then one day I was shocked to see their sign read
"Umberto's". The place changed hands and the talented Chef Peter was
gone! I went to Umberto's once, never feeling compelled to come again.
Finally driving by one day, I was exhilarated to see the sign, once again
read "Clara's". I immediately raced in, took a look at the menu, which
boasted all the old favorites, and confirmed that Peter was back!
Redlands rejoiced! As you might suspect, this is one of my very favorite
restaurants in Redlands for food as well as ambiance. The decor is
reminiscent of the "Gay '20's", or the best of the '80's. The rooms are
painted in mauve with black lacquered columns and metal trim, as well as
etched glass partitions between the booths. I think it's marvelous how
they've preserved the era without it looking outdated. Their stylish bar
with it's black and white checkered floor, day or night, is the perfect place
for a rendezvous. It's always dark, allowing the little white "star" lights in
the ceiling to work their magic. The restaurant has a main dining room,
another slightly smaller one, and still another room for private parties.
Such glorious food makes choosing hard. I hardly ever pass up their
incomparable Crab Cakes, it's one of my inexhaustible cravings. The crab
cake is tender with so much flavor, scattered with chopped hard boiled
egg and served on a bed of greens tossed in a vinaigrette that's just
perfect for these delectable delights. Another fantastic dressing that
would send any of their salads to unequaled heights is the Caramelized
Garlic Dressing that tops the Grilled Shrimp Salad with feta cheese. There
are whole cloves of nutty, sweet roasted garlic in a vinaigrette that is just
fantastic! A close second is their Three Cheese Dressing. Throw the
Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing with Grilled Shrimps into the mix
and choosing a salad is mighty hard here. Beware of those warm and
crusty sourdough rolls they leave at your table to diligently watch until
your meal arrives, they're infamous for getting their fair share of
attention. You'll be sorry if you don't save plenty of room. The soups are
wonderful here. The Potato Leek Soup was rich and creamy while the
Cream of Tomato Soup had such a freshness, one of the best I've ever
had! For lunch I've enjoyed The Clara, a turkey and bacon sandwich on
grilled sourdough with avocado and a great dressing. While the Angel
Hair Pasta with Tomato & Basil makes another deliciously light lunch. I
thought this was even better at room temperature, taking a couple of
bites before storing it away in the refrigerator, but finishing it off instead.
My beef loving husband thoroughly enjoyed the Petite Fillet with
Mushrooms & Onions and the Medallions of Beef with Burgundy Wine
Mushroom Sauce, but my pallet was partial to such entrees as the Half
Roasted Duck with Grand Marnier Orange Sauce, with the meat succulent
and sauce deeply flavored, served alongside the lightest whipped
potatoes. Equally excellent was the Halibut with Cilantro Jalapeno Jus,
the Lamb Chops with Sage & Port Wine Sauce, and the Fresh Fillet of Sole
with a Lemon Butter Caper Sauce. All of our entrees we request with their
heavenly whipped potatoes which is perfect to sop up leftover sauces. To
sum it up, I can't imagine anywhere else that could pull of pairing pickles
with pasta in a brown sauce which is the only way to describe their Filet
Picante which appears often as a "special". For dessert I highly
recommend the Creme Brulee, a cream based custard with a crunchy
caramelized sugar topping and an aroma reminiscent of roasting
marshmallows over a campfire. I couldn't help, but moan over every bite.
The Hazelnut Torte is unbelievably smooth, set on a pool of tangerine
sauce, wow!

The prices are extremely reasonable for such gratifying food.

Lunch is served Monday through Friday from 11:30 to 2:30. and the dinner
hour starts at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

Located at 101 E. Redlands Blvd. in Redlands. It can't be seen from the
street since it's within the complex behind the Lois Lauer building.

Telephone (909) 335-1466