Sip Your Latte in a National Historic Landmark Steeped in Legend

Wanna sip your coffee inside a café that’s on the National Register of Historic Places?

Ellie’s Table in San Juan Capistrano isn’t just any café, it’s got croissants that tower over your latte, a pumpkin chai that tastes like fall in a cup, and breakfast sandwiches that locals swear are the best in town.

The atmosphere is warm and modern, but the walls around you carry more than a century of history.

Enter Judge Egan

This red-brick Victorian was built in 1883 by Judge Richard Egan, San Juan Capistrano’s unofficial mayor, Justice of the Peace, and the man people turned to for everything from land disputes to rainfall records.

His home doubled as a schoolhouse, courthouse, and community hall known as Harmony Hall. If something important was happening in town, chances are it happened right here.

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Back then, the building stood across from a stagecoach depot and jail—today’s El Adobe restaurant. Egan’s courthouse was so central to daily life that famous Shakespearean actress Helena Modjeska herself nicknamed him the “King of Capistrano.”

The Tunnel Mysteries

And then there are the tunnels.

When the building was renovated in the 1990s, workers discovered bricked-up archways and a crawl space leading out toward Camino Capistrano.

Local historians say San Juan was once laced with underground passageways—many originally irrigation ditches, or zanjas, that ran from Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Some were used for drainage, others possibly for escape routes during the rougher days of bandits and rustlers.

One tunnel ran beneath what is now Ortega Highway toward the mission itself. Another snaked toward Trabuco Creek. And here, under Judge Egan’s old home, the sealed passageway seems to point directly toward the jail across the street.

Whether it was a drainage channel, a hidden shortcut, or something more secretive, no one can say for sure. Learn more about the mystery.

Ellie’s Legacy

Fast-forward a century, and the historic home has been reimagined as Ellie’s Table, named after the founder’s grandmother, Ellie.

The café is part of Jay’s Catering, a family-owned company started by Jay and Ellie D’Elia, who believed that food should be both delicious and an experience.

Ellie’s Table reflects that heritage with pastries as beautiful as they are flaky, gourmet sandwiches, and seasonal drinks that keep locals coming back.

A Gathering Place Then and Now

Judge Egan’s house was once where people gathered for justice, school lessons, and community meetings.

Today, it’s where they gather for croissants and cappuccinos. The trials are long gone, but the spirit of the building remains.

So the next time you’re in San Juan Capistrano, order a chai latte, grab a table, and look around. You’re not just sitting in a café—you’re sitting in a landmark that still has secrets buried beneath it.

📍Ellie’s Table: 31892 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
📱 Follow Ellie’s Table on Instagram @elliestable
👨‍⚖️ Learn more about Judge Egan

FAQ: Ellie’s Table at the Egan House

1. What is Ellie’s Table in San Juan Capistrano known for?
Ellie’s Table is a café and bakery located inside the historic Judge Richard Egan House, a red-brick Victorian built in 1883. It’s best known for oversized croissants, seasonal lattes like the pumpkin chai, and gourmet breakfast sandwiches that many locals call the best in town.

2. What is the Egan House’s architectural style?
The Egan House is a Victorian-style building, notable for its red-brick construction — a rare feature in Southern California during the late 19th century.

3. What was the Egan House used for originally?
Originally Judge Richard Egan’s home, the building also functioned as a courthouse, schoolhouse, and gathering place known as Harmony Hall, making it a central hub for the community.

4. Who was Judge Richard Egan?
Judge Richard Egan was a Civil War veteran, Gold Rush adventurer, and San Juan Capistrano’s unofficial mayor in the late 1800s. He played multiple roles in town life, and actress Helena Modjeska famously nicknamed him the “King of Capistrano.”

5. Are there really tunnels under Ellie’s Table?
During renovations, workers discovered sealed archways and crawl spaces beneath the building. Historians believe many tunnels in San Juan Capistrano were old irrigation ditches (zanjas) connected to the Mission, though some speculate they may have been used for escape or hidden passageways.

6. Is the Egan House a historic landmark?
Yes. The Egan House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and recognized as one of San Juan Capistrano’s most significant historic structures.

7. Can visitors go inside today?
Yes. The building is now home to Ellie’s Table, where guests can enjoy coffee and pastries while experiencing the historic setting.

8. Who founded Ellie’s Table?
Ellie’s Table was founded by Jay’s Catering in honor of Ellie D’Elia, the family matriarch. The café reflects her legacy with fresh pastries, handcrafted sandwiches, and coffee served in a landmark setting.

9. What was the connection between Judge Richard Egan and Helena Modjeska?
Judge Richard Egan and Polish actress Helena Modjeska, who lived nearby in what is now Modjeska Canyon, were contemporaries and friends in 19th-century Orange County. Modjeska admired Egan’s influence in San Juan Capistrano and is credited with giving him the nickname “King of Capistrano.” Their connection reflects how cultural and civic leaders shaped the community during that era.

10. Did Judge Richard Egan have a connection to Lewis Moulton? Yes. Judge Richard Egan and Lewis F. Moulton, the rancher who built one of Orange County’s largest cattle operations, were contemporaries in the late 1800s. Egan often acted as a notary, surveyor, and legal advisor for local landowners, including Moulton. Both men played key roles in shaping the early development of South Orange County—Egan through civic leadership in San Juan Capistrano, and Moulton through the ranching empire that later became Nellie Gail Ranch and other communities.