There's no reason to go hungry near Metrolink's stops
The Metro may be fine for living it up in L.A. County proper, but what about Orange and Ventura counties? The Metrolink system (metrolinktrains.com) serves all three, plus San Bernardino and Riverside. Below is a sampler of dining options at Metrolink stops.
ORANGE COUNTY
FULLERTON: At the outdoor Slidebar Rock and Roll Cafe (122 E. Commonwealth Ave.), be a groupie and order the popular mac and cheese, a burger, salad or full entree. It's located in a commuter's heaven of quick eats and sit-down restaurants. You can also go for fine Italian at Spadra's (136 E. Commonwealth Ave.), get your beef on at Stubrik's Steakhouse (118 E. Commonwealth Ave.), or martini it up at Commonwealth Lounge and Grill (112 E. Commonwealth Ave.).
ORANGE: The Cask 'n Cleaver Steakhouse is literally attached to the historic station. From the platform, you can see the sign above the restaurant's back door (186 N. Atchison St.). Or you can walk toward the clock tower to Chapman Avenue. Within two blocks westbound, find casual Mexican food at Ostioneria 7 Mares (540 W. Chapman Ave.) and Panaderia La Poblana (604 W. Chapman Ave.). Go east toward Glassell Street for the Omega burger stand (309 W. Chapman Ave.) or bar fare at the District Lounge (223 W. Chapman Ave.).
SAN CLEMENTE: Given that the station lies on the sand, beach-scene eateries rule. Get your fave iced blended beverage and/or a pastry at laid-back Kaylani Coffee Co. coffeehouse (1844 N. El Camino Real). Round the corner from Kaylani and go up El Camino Real to the right for Japanese food at Ichibiri (1814 N. El Camino Real).
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO: Catty-corner from the station a few steps up the street on the left, the new Blendz cafe serves salads, sandwiches, smoothies and fresh squeezed juices (26755 Verdugo Ave.). For a sit-down meal, Sarducci's Capistrano Depot is right beside the station with a train-view patio (26701 Verdugo St.). A few more steps to the north is the elegant Rendezvous, serving modern American cuisine in an original 1927 Pullman train car (26701-B Verdugo St.).
VENTURA COUNTY
MOORPARK: Eat inside or on the patio at the Hub, a mellow sandwich shop that makes its own potato chips. It involves a walk through the station parking lot and across the main street to the corner of Magnolia Street (313 E. High St.).
CAMARILLO: The spacious pub J.J. Brewsky's serves bar food and American entrees -- a trek up a moderate hill from the station's Lewis Road side to Old Town (2433 Ventura Blvd.). Verona Trattoria is next door (2485 Ventura Blvd.) and Element Coffee (2364 Ventura Blvd.) is a block farther on the other side of the street. If the walk is too daunting, Tony's Pizza is on the flatlands (31 N. Lewis Road).
OXNARD: At Ruby's Cafe, choose from Mexican classics or all-American steaks, seafood, pastas, sandwiches, burgers and salads (348 S. Oxnard Blvd.). Also, the south side of the station is lined with no-frills Mexican places along East 5th Street. Even Jacaranda's Juice Bar is more Mex than Jamba (115 E. 5th St.).
