Vaquera in San Juan Capistrano debuts pizzas, family menu & kids-eat-free Thursdays. Open Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve with bold flavors for all ages.
The holidays can feel like a juggling act—finding a place where kids are actually welcome, the food doesn’t skimp on flavor, and everyone leaves happy.
Enter Vaquera Restaurant & Bar at River Street Marketplace in San Juan Capistrano, where the new à la carte menu solves that puzzle with wood-fired comfort food, handmade pizzas, and a kids-eat-free deal that makes Thursday nights a no-brainer.
Whether you’re a Manhattan foodie craving elevated comfort or a Miami Beach family seeking a fun-loving spot where the little ones won’t stage a mutiny, Vaquera’s latest rollout delivers bold flavors and zero pretense.
Open Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, the restaurant invites families to celebrate the season over shareable plates that actually taste like someone cares.
A Menu Built for Sharing (and Stealing Bites)
Vaquera’s refreshed lineup reads like a love letter to scratch cooking. The signature long-fermented pizza dough—developed over days to coax out deep flavor and an airy, tender crumb—anchors a collection of pies that range from the Pepperoni and Peppers (tomato sauce, mozzarella, charred pasilla peppers, hot honey drizzle) to the Six Cheese and Pancetta, a white-sauce wonder topped with Italian bacon, apple, caramelized onion, and butternut squash.
There’s also the Crispy Kale and Italian Sausage, layered with tomato sauce, red onion, capers, and calabrian chili aioli.
Each one showcases the kind of flavor-forward thinking you’d expect from upscale neighborhoods in San Francisco or Chicago, but with a relaxed vibe that feels decidedly Southern California.
Beyond pizza, the wood-fired grill delivers show-stoppers: Oak-Grilled Striped Bass, an 8-oz Black Hawk Farms filet, or a 22 oz Ribeye for two, served with herb-roasted marble potatoes, broccolini, and beef demi sauce.
Starters include Vaquera Meatballs in homemade tomato sauce with gremolata and garlic bread, plus Charred Heirloom Carrots dressed with mulato chili honey, lime, and toasted seeds. For those who lean lighter, the Seasonal Burrata Salad—prosciutto, candied walnuts, arugula, persimmon, oranges, tangerine vinaigrette—balances richness with bright, citrusy notes. The Green Goddess salad, meanwhile, layers little gems, red and gold beets, pistachios, creamy avocado, and herb dressing for a plate that tastes as good as it photographs.
Sides and shareable options round out the spread: Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Spiced Potatoes, and Cast-Iron Cornbread with queso Oaxaca and butter. It’s the kind of menu that invites you to order too much, pass plates around, and maybe sneak a bite from someone else’s pizza when they’re not looking.
Kids Eat Free Thursdays & a Menu That Actually Appeals to Picky Eaters
Vaquera’s new Kids Menu includes Chicken Tenders, Cheeseburger, Rigatoni Butter Pasta, and a Kids Pizza—a thoughtfully sized, simply crafted version of the restaurant’s beloved pies, made with clean ingredients parents can feel good about. And starting now, kids aged 10 and under eat free on Thursdays with the purchase of an adult entrée. That’s the kind of deal that turns a random weeknight into a family tradition, whether you’re in Las Vegas hustling between work and school pickup or in Washington DC trying to squeeze in dinner before bedtime meltdowns.
Anyone who’s ever bribed a toddler with mac and cheese just to finish a meal in peace will appreciate a restaurant that doesn’t treat kid-friendly food as an afterthought. Vaquera’s approach, centered on elevated, shareable comfort food made from scratch, extends to the youngest diners, reinforcing the restaurant’s role as a lively, family-friendly destination where great food, warm energy, and shared traditions define every visit.
Holiday Hours: Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve Without the Stress
Vaquera will be open on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, a lifeline for families who’d rather toast the season over wood-fired seafood and signature pizzas than scramble for last-minute reservations.
The newly refreshed à la carte menu means you can tailor the evening to your crew’s cravings—whether that’s a spread of small plates, a couple of pizzas, or the full wood-grilled experience with ribeye and sides.
The timing couldn’t be better. According to the National Restaurant Association, holiday dining out has surged as families seek stress-free celebrations, and Vaquera’s scratch-made approach—combined with a menu that welcomes all ages—positions it as a go-to for upscale yet approachable gatherings. It’s the kind of place where you can show up in Aspen après-ski casual or Hong Kong business-casual and feel equally at home.
Mini FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Vaquera in San Juan Capistrano New Menu
Q: What days is Vaquera open?
A: Vaquera serves brunch Friday–Sunday, Happy Hour Tuesday–Thursday, and Dinner Tuesday–Sunday. The restaurant is closed Mondays.
Q: How does the Kids Eat Free promotion work?
A: Every Thursday, kids aged 10 and under eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée. The offer applies to items on the Kids Menu, including Chicken Tenders, Cheeseburger, Rigatoni Butter Pasta, and Kids Pizza.
Q: Is Vaquera open on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve?
A: Yes. Vaquera will welcome guests on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, serving its full à la carte menu for families looking to celebrate over shareable comfort food and wood-fired specialties.
Why Vaquera’s Flavor-Forward Approach Matters
In cities like Atlanta, Berlin, and San Francisco, diners have come to expect restaurants that honor ingredients, technique, and the kind of fun-loving energy that makes a meal memorable. Vaquera checks all those boxes.
The long-fermented pizza dough isn’t a gimmick—it’s a commitment to flavor and texture that elevates every bite. The wood-fired grill delivers the char and smoke that define great cooking. And the Kids Menu, complete with a free-meal promotion, signals that Vaquera isn’t just chasing foodie points; it’s building a place where families can actually relax.
The result is a restaurant that feels equally suited to a date night in Manhattan or a multigenerational dinner in Los Angeles. Whether you’re splitting the Six Cheese and Pancetta pizza or diving into the Oak-Grilled Striped Bass, the experience centers on bold flavors, warm hospitality, and the kind of relatability that keeps you coming back.
Ready to Make Thursday Night Your New Tradition?
Vaquera’s rollout: holiday hours, pizzas, a family-friendly menu, and kids-eat-free Thursdays, cements its place as San Juan Capistrano’s go-to for elevated comfort food that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Book your table for the holidays, grab the crew for a Thursday night feast, or swing by for weekend brunch. Either way, you’ll leave full, happy, and already planning your next visit.
