Just wonderful. Great setting. Delightful service. We had a grandson with us and were well accommodated. Tasty food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Robert Vandygrift
Awesome meal. Little load, but Group had a Awesome time
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Key Lime Pie, Try the Butter Cake, Northern Alaskan Halibut with Crispy Rock Shrimp, Butter Cake
Christy Smith
Loved it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Key Lime Pie
Trevor Burgan
Smoked salmon appetizer was incredibly good....But they stopped serving it. I really wish it would come back, it was easily the best thing on the menu in my opinion.EDIT: October 2021, the smoked salmon appetizer is back!!EDIT 2: February 2022, alas the smoked salmon appetizer is gone again. That didn’t stick around very long.EDIT 3: July 2022 - It’s back again!The server mentioned that the smoked salmon appetizer is kind of a seasonal thing. Apparently it requires a lot of prep work. ?♂️EDIT 4: April 2024 - Smoked Salmon has been gone for a while now. It was easily the best appetizer item they had and it’s disappointing they can’t offer this anymore.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Gary Newton
Wonderful food as always. The halibut was so fresh and perfectly done. Fire roasted hummus was the best I've ever tried. Service was excellent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Frequent Worldtraveller
A great view does not qualify for lesser quality food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Joe Duffy
Super food! Really tasty, tons of space, great bar and great service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chowder, Tuna
Rowland
This is a hidden gem. The burger was juicy and delicious, and the atmosphere was nice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Karl Delaney
So after reading about this Hillstone copycat we finally decided to try it. Houston’s which is one of the Hillstone brands has changed their signature Tortilla Soup recipe and not liking the new version I decided to try the Coastal Kitchen version. I rate it a 9.5 copy of the original from Houston’s. It needed a little more cheese but was excellent in every other aspect and it alone will bring me back. The starter salad with the honey mustard dressing was on point and actually better than Houston’s. Our guests had the chowder which in every way resembled the Houston’s version. Their French Dip was enjoyed by our other guest and the fries were perfect. My wife’s blackened grouper sandwich was merely ok and quite frankly since most of the menu is an excellent Hillstone knockoff then I would suggest recreating the Gulfstream Gulf Coast Style Fish Sandwich. The only negative menu item we sampled was the Chicken BLT. It was not awful but the chicken was overcooked as was the bacon and it doesn’t even come close to competing with the Ding’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich at the Hillstone locations. I’m all for innovation and signature changes but if you’re going to do that then maintain the same high quality and taste standard for all the menu items. All of us agreed we will be back to try the rest of the menu for lunch and dinner. Service was excellent and the atmosphere although a little acoustically challenging was comfortable and inviting. I came close to rating this establishment five stars but they just fall a little short of that mark. Still well worth a visit and I hope to revise my rating in the future. Look out Hillstone you have a worthy challenger and that’s high praise in itself.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chowder
Paula Healthy
We’ve been here twice and ate on the outside patio. The salmon was delicious, the drinks created with care and the server was friendly (but not invasive).There is parking available across the street.
So Coastal kitchen in Dana Point CA.is a very popular Waspy hangout,with indoor and outdoor dining.I must say for as busy as it is I don't think the food is really that great!The Chowder was ok but I wouldn't call it good by any means,I got the Smoked Salmon entre with Mash and vegetables,(not a Vegetarian entre on the menu)The salmon was cooked just right but the mash was ok,just ok and very little of it,the mixed vegetables were fine again just a very small portion.I don't think the food here is bad just lacking in any seasoning,and a little bland,BUT all that being said they do the most amazing Trout dip appetizer,which is worth going here for,served with a long seeded cracker,it Amazing,it's that good.The service is decent, the atmosphere has a very Country Club/Hamptons (on the West coast obviously)vibe.I don't think the food is necessarily overpriced it just could be a little tastier for the fuss people make over it.Parking: There is a Parking lot (which is small) and if it's busy which it usually is parking can be a little toughKid-friendliness: Quite a few kids here a dinner time,I think they have coloring books a pens for themWheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair ramp,easily accessible entrance to restaurant.
If you’re looking for a nice date-night dinner restaurant, Coastal Kitchen has the menu and ambience to please. Of their starters, I’d recommend the spinach dip and salsa with chips. The beets were also a fun spin-off of a typical beet appetizer. The burger was good, not amazing — I did enjoy the hickory sauce on it. It comes with fries which pair really nicely with the spicy mayo or ranch. The crispy chicken Caesar salad was strong tasting but I loved the thinly cut chicken. It seems like the salmon and other seafood dishes are what they’re known for and I didn’t order any of those. This place is worth trying!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cheeseburger
First time guest (s). I had the double pork chop with fig sauce and twice baked potato! Guests had the salmon and the other the filet (steak). All 3 were perfect. Sat outside. Extremely comfortable. No dessert this time. Will come back again!! ??
marcello
I had a delicious lunch with a friend today on the outdoor patio! The chicken BLT sandwich was delicious and my glass of wine was good as well!! Katie was a personable, efficient and extremely accommodating as our server! The hostess was friendly as well !!
Just wonderful. Great setting. Delightful service. We had a grandson with us and were well accommodated. Tasty food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Awesome meal. Little load, but Group had a Awesome time
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Key Lime Pie, Try the Butter Cake, Northern Alaskan Halibut with Crispy Rock Shrimp, Butter Cake
Loved it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Key Lime Pie
Smoked salmon appetizer was incredibly good....But they stopped serving it. I really wish it would come back, it was easily the best thing on the menu in my opinion.EDIT: October 2021, the smoked salmon appetizer is back!!EDIT 2: February 2022, alas the smoked salmon appetizer is gone again. That didn’t stick around very long.EDIT 3: July 2022 - It’s back again!The server mentioned that the smoked salmon appetizer is kind of a seasonal thing. Apparently it requires a lot of prep work. ?♂️EDIT 4: April 2024 - Smoked Salmon has been gone for a while now. It was easily the best appetizer item they had and it’s disappointing they can’t offer this anymore.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Wonderful food as always. The halibut was so fresh and perfectly done. Fire roasted hummus was the best I've ever tried. Service was excellent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A great view does not qualify for lesser quality food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Super food! Really tasty, tons of space, great bar and great service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chowder, Tuna
This is a hidden gem. The burger was juicy and delicious, and the atmosphere was nice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
So after reading about this Hillstone copycat we finally decided to try it. Houston’s which is one of the Hillstone brands has changed their signature Tortilla Soup recipe and not liking the new version I decided to try the Coastal Kitchen version. I rate it a 9.5 copy of the original from Houston’s. It needed a little more cheese but was excellent in every other aspect and it alone will bring me back. The starter salad with the honey mustard dressing was on point and actually better than Houston’s. Our guests had the chowder which in every way resembled the Houston’s version. Their French Dip was enjoyed by our other guest and the fries were perfect. My wife’s blackened grouper sandwich was merely ok and quite frankly since most of the menu is an excellent Hillstone knockoff then I would suggest recreating the Gulfstream Gulf Coast Style Fish Sandwich. The only negative menu item we sampled was the Chicken BLT. It was not awful but the chicken was overcooked as was the bacon and it doesn’t even come close to competing with the Ding’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich at the Hillstone locations. I’m all for innovation and signature changes but if you’re going to do that then maintain the same high quality and taste standard for all the menu items. All of us agreed we will be back to try the rest of the menu for lunch and dinner. Service was excellent and the atmosphere although a little acoustically challenging was comfortable and inviting. I came close to rating this establishment five stars but they just fall a little short of that mark. Still well worth a visit and I hope to revise my rating in the future. Look out Hillstone you have a worthy challenger and that’s high praise in itself.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chowder
We’ve been here twice and ate on the outside patio. The salmon was delicious, the drinks created with care and the server was friendly (but not invasive).There is parking available across the street.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
So Coastal kitchen in Dana Point CA.is a very popular Waspy hangout,with indoor and outdoor dining.I must say for as busy as it is I don't think the food is really that great!The Chowder was ok but I wouldn't call it good by any means,I got the Smoked Salmon entre with Mash and vegetables,(not a Vegetarian entre on the menu)The salmon was cooked just right but the mash was ok,just ok and very little of it,the mixed vegetables were fine again just a very small portion.I don't think the food here is bad just lacking in any seasoning,and a little bland,BUT all that being said they do the most amazing Trout dip appetizer,which is worth going here for,served with a long seeded cracker,it Amazing,it's that good.The service is decent, the atmosphere has a very Country Club/Hamptons (on the West coast obviously)vibe.I don't think the food is necessarily overpriced it just could be a little tastier for the fuss people make over it.Parking: There is a Parking lot (which is small) and if it's busy which it usually is parking can be a little toughKid-friendliness: Quite a few kids here a dinner time,I think they have coloring books a pens for themWheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair ramp,easily accessible entrance to restaurant.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Smoked Trout Dip, Tuna, Jumbo Lump Crabcakes, Butter Cake
Love the whole menu. Great location, great food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
If you’re looking for a nice date-night dinner restaurant, Coastal Kitchen has the menu and ambience to please. Of their starters, I’d recommend the spinach dip and salsa with chips. The beets were also a fun spin-off of a typical beet appetizer. The burger was good, not amazing — I did enjoy the hickory sauce on it. It comes with fries which pair really nicely with the spicy mayo or ranch. The crispy chicken Caesar salad was strong tasting but I loved the thinly cut chicken. It seems like the salmon and other seafood dishes are what they’re known for and I didn’t order any of those. This place is worth trying!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cheeseburger
First time guest (s). I had the double pork chop with fig sauce and twice baked potato! Guests had the salmon and the other the filet (steak). All 3 were perfect. Sat outside. Extremely comfortable. No dessert this time. Will come back again!! ??
I had a delicious lunch with a friend today on the outdoor patio! The chicken BLT sandwich was delicious and my glass of wine was good as well!! Katie was a personable, efficient and extremely accommodating as our server! The hostess was friendly as well !!