Between West Hollywood and Temecula!

[shebop]

I have a really good friend that lives in Temecula - I live in West Hollywood - we meet about once a year somewhere that's equidistant ......
That usually leads to a shopping center in Rancho Cucamonga - not too thrilling!
Any ideas? Just needs to be freeway friendly from any adjacent freeway!
Any decent food will be an improvement.

[Servorg]

Although these recommendations will be farther in terms of miles for your friend in Temecula, they should both yield pretty similar drive times (as you are going to be on the more crowded stretches of the Freeway system going south from WeHo).

Mariscos Puerto Esperanza in Orange and Break of Dawn in Laguna Hills are both excellent and fairly inexpensive places.

-----
Break of Dawn
24351 Avenida De La Carlota Ste N6, Laguna Hills, CA 92653

Mariscos Puerto Esperanza
1724 N Tustin St, Orange, CA 92865

[Servorg]

One other thing. If this is for dinner, rather than lunch, then Break of Dawn won't work as they are a breakfast through brunch place.

[ChinoWayne]

For steak and maybe some Jazz, New York Grill at Ontario Mills, just off the i-15, or for better steak, Sycamore Inn on Foothill on the boarder or Upland and Rancho Cucamonga. Owen's Bistro, about a mile and half south of the 60, just off of Central Avenue in Chino for patio dining and some artfully crafted food.

-----
Owen's Bistro
5210 D St, Chino, CA 91710

New York Grill
950 Ontario Mills Dr, Ontario, CA 91764

Sycamore Inn
8318 Foothill Blvd, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730

[ChinoWayne]

Oh, and Marios Place in Riverside for Northern Italian cuisine looks very interesting (have not tied it yet) a friend who is a Jazz vocalist appears there periodically.

[shebop]

Thanks for the ideas! I will run them by her and hopefully sway her from a life of chains..........

[attran99]

Back Abbey in Claremont. Great burgers and beers.
Aruffo's in Claremont. Yummy Italian food...and handmade raviolis.
Drinks at Hotel Casa 425 are delish and super trendy...reminds you of a great lounge in the city. Great during the warm months because of the courtyard.
The Village area has shops, so it would be fun to do a walk around after dinner or lunch. I've never been, but Viva Madrid is supposed to have great Spanish tapas, too.

-----
Viva Madrid
225 Yale Ave Ste B, Claremont, CA 91711

Hotel Casa 425
425 West First Street, Claremont, CA

The Back Abbey
128 Oberlin Ave, Claremont, CA 91711

Aruffo's Italian Cuisine
126 Yale Ave, Claremont, CA 91711

[ChinoWayne]

Another possibility, high end Italian, Rosa's on Vineyard Ave just north of the Ontario Airport.

http://www.rosasitalian.com/