New American Restaurants near Dana Point, CA

“Great food, service and atmosphere.“

“We had a family gathering of 6 people. Everyone raved about their food...Osso Bucco, Halibut, Stuffed Pork Chop, Veal Marsala, all fabulously prepared and delicious!! Our waitress was terrific! Every order was perfect. She was attentive in checking with us often to ask if everything was okay or if anyone wanted anything. We all agreed that Jack's served us one of the best meals ever!“

“Great atmosphere with great service. Loved how an entire team look out for you from the greeting to the end.“

“What A Dish provided the catering for my niece’s baby shower, and I honestly cannot say enough wonderful things about them. From start to finish, their care, attention to detail, and genuine concern for making the day perfect were evident.

They listened closely to my niece’s wishes and delivered above and beyond. Every dish was absolutely amazing — fresh, beautifully presented, and delicious. They arrived on time, set everything up flawlessly, and even cleaned up afterward. Without us even asking, they left one of their team members to help serve guests, which was such a thoughtful and unexpected touch.

I want to give a special shout-out to Tim, who was truly a godsend. His kindness, professionalism, and warm presence made the entire event feel even more special. He went out of his way to ensure everything ran smoothly, and our family can’t thank him enough.

If you’re considering catering for any event, look no further. What A Dish exceeded every expectation. We will absolutely be using them again!“

“I like stopping there on bike rides“

“Food is excellent, pool games are legit. Good times by all“

“I’ve never had a bad meal at the Craft House. Every single thing I’ve ordered was delicious. Kate & Nate are the very best and make dining there so fun!!! I could eat there every day!!!!“

“My fiancé and I eat here all the time. There is a lot of variety, and the dishes are flavorful! I really love their chicken club sandwich and cheeseburger, but you really can’t go wrong with anything you choose. Staff is super friendly and helpful as well - shoutout to Lali and Nathan for providing amazing service!“

“Okay, full disclosure: with four kids, a date night that doesn’t involve drive-thru fries or someone asking for ketchup is already a win—but Jane in San Clemente? Total glow-up moment for us.

From the moment we walked in, the vibe was chef’s kiss. Dim lighting, gorgeous design, cozy but elevated—like Pinterest and a speakeasy had a very classy baby. It felt grown-up and cool without being pretentious (because let’s be real, I still had a Paw Patrol sticker on my shoe).

The cocktails? Don’t even get me started. These are not your average drinks—they’re the kind you sip slow, admire the garnish, and then immediately plan your next visit so you can try another. I had one with gin and lavender that was dangerously good. My husband kept raving about how smooth his bourbon cocktail was. We felt fancy. We felt alive.

And the food, though a smaller menu, is incredible. Small plates, yes, but big flavor. Everything was well thought out, beautifully presented, and packed with flavor. It’s not a place for giant portions, but it’s perfect for sharing and savoring between sips and conversation.

Bottom line: Jane is date night perfection—whether you’re escaping the chaos for a few hours or looking to impress out-of-town friends. It’s moody, delicious, and full of that “we need to do this more often” energy. We’ll be back. Probably with a babysitter already booked.“

“Súper recomendado muy sabroso 😋 y muy amables todos 💕🙏“

“UPDATE: I have raised to 4 stars because the service has slowly improved over the last few months. Thank you for taking note of customer input and acting on it. As of now 11Aug22, solid service, good food. Taco Tuesday is great. I will continue my regular visits and hope to give 5 stars soon.Old: The last several times we have been to TJ's we have had no service. We are coming off the course hot and thirsty, we seat ourselves and no one comes by for 15-20 mins. No water, no welcome, nothing. If you can get served the food is solid. We have enjoyed breakfast here before and it was really good. When its 90 degrees and golfers are coming off a round on the course, offer them some water would ya? I HATE giving low reviews, but until this situation is fixed it will stay this way.Edit: The director of food and drink responded almost immediately so I raised my review by a star (From 2 to 3). I will go back sometime in the next couple weeks (Anonymously of course), if the problems have been resolved, I will edit this review further.“

“Fine dining, excellent service, amazing food“

“We were visiting friends in San Clemente and had dinner at Vine Restaurant & Bar. The service was outstanding and the food was delish. Great experience“

“We've been coming to The Wine Gallery for a couple years. I have never had a bad meal. The fig bruschetta, meatballs and arugula salad for starters. The seasonal gnocchi is AMAZING! The staff and servers are exceptional. And you must order from the outstanding selection of wine. We often travel to Italy so having an experience like this so close to home makes us thankful. Cheers to the chef!“

“Each dish is spectacular. Love the calamari ….can be an appetizer to share or eat on your own with a salad. 230:Forest Avenue never disappoints!!!“

“Loved their chocolate desert!“

“We were in town visiting for Labor Day Weekend and ended up meeting some friends here and it was delightful. Everyone from the hostess to random staff were incredibly hospitable. We left something on the table and someone who didn’t even wait on us chased us down to return it, greatly appreciated. Food was exceptional, drinks were exceptional, and service was equally exceptional, believe our servers name was Jazmine and couldn’t have been a sweeter gal. They had a live band that was very enjoyable and weren’t so loud you couldn’t maintain a conversation, perfect vibe for a SoCal Saturday. Happy with our decision to meet there and would 100% be a regular if we were local. Check it out!“

“Super great food and staff! Our waitress was awesome and the food had great flavor. The fried pickles were perfect. The brisket sandwich had some great flavor combinations! Would absolutely recommend to anyone! The frozen huckleberry lemonade is a must try and the Pineapple Express martini is as well. Love it“

“I saw a bunch of recommendations for this place on local social media groups, and found that I pass by it almost every day.

I stopped in to check out the menu, and was disappointed not to find what looked like a great philly cheeseteak that I'd seen in photos. That was because it wasn't on the regular menu, but on the specials board. Faith restored, I ordered the cheese steak from who I assume was the owner or manager. He was very nice. He even offered me a small sample of potato salad, which was excellent. The philly was also excellent. I can't wait to come back!

10/10“

“It was fantastic! Amazing craft cocktails I've never had anything like before. Food was also fantastic. Local fish, local produce, how can you go wrong. Get the Tessie for a drink, amazing cocktail ?“

“If you want a unique dining experience this is the place to go. The wait staff and servers they were all on point very attentive I never had to look around to look for anyone if I raised my head somebody was right at my table to find out what I needed or how they could serve me. Awesome awesome experience wonderful food. I will be back!“

“The food was very good and the service was excellent. I'm a glad I gave this place a try!“

“Had a wonderful evening out with my wife at Ironwood Cellars in Laguna Hills. We had reservations for 5:30 p.m. and arrived early. We were greeted by Joe, the manager on duty, who was very kind, professional, and welcoming. Art was our server and is amazingly gifted in customer service professionalism and overall people skills. Yes, showing the love. We started with tequilla drinks from the bar, and we each had a wedge salad. Joe sent us over a wonderful Agnolotti appetizer as well, which was more than kind. The ambiance was positive and upbeat, perfect for the evening. Sergio was also quite attentive in making sure our table was serviced properly. We ordered our entrees with my wife having the halibut dinner, and I had the famous giant meatball dish. Both meals were hot & tasty and presented well. We had a terrific time, and Art surprised us with a complimentary dessert 🍨 with berries. The restaurant is so nice and offers an outdoor patio and bar seating as well. The wine list is extensive, as are the craft beers. Highly recommended.“

“It is nice for Bloom to have a Happy Hour. The drink selection was excellent, the Happy Hour food was very tasty and nice portions. Hoover is a great host behind the bar and increased the pleasure of the experience. We look forward to returning to Bloom for the Happy Hour. Tim“

“It was my first time here, and the food is delicious. Love the simple & quaint decor. Definitely will be back!“

“good service food it's so delicious 😋 atmosphere everything is incredible“

“Aurelia (Manager) & Manny provided amazing customer service that exceeded any I have received at a restaurant in a very long time! I had an issue with my order and they went above and beyond to speak with their team, circle back to me, and address the issue. The food was delicious, as well. I will return here!“

“My wife found this little gem whereas we stopped in on a beautiful Saturday morning for brunch. Ramos Cafe did not disappoint. Brunch was delicious and the atmosphere quaint.“

“Delicious 🥰familiale belle vague 🌊 beach 🏝️☀️“

“great NY vibe with good food“

“Always great wine and food here!“

“Great wines and knowledgable plus friendly staff!“

“The Lumberyard located in beautiful downtown Laguna Beach is a great place to have lunch or dinner. There is a new $16 lunch menu and I decided to try the fish tacos. There was a choice between salmon or halibut for the tacos which included shredded cabbage with a pink cream sauce and a side of black bean and corn salad. I chose the halibut for my taco and it was cooked perfectly. It was a generous portion of fish in each of the tacos so it could easily be split with a friend. The service was excellent. Our orders were taken within about five minutes of sitting down and the food came out quickly after we ordered. I would recommend the Lumberyard if you are visiting Laguna Beach. You will need to have reservations during the Art Festivals or when there is a play at the Playhouse.“

“Wow! Super yum to say the least. It’s always great when the new local restaurant hits it out of the park! My wife & I started with the bacon & meatballs appetizer. She then had the fried green tomatoes & French onion soup while I had the ribeye. Delicious!“

“The executive chef, Evan, is truly a force to be reckoned with in the culinary world. Every bite we had was delicious. I would highly recommend the filet mignon. The ambiance was comfortable, getting a front row seat to a lovely sunset over the ocean was divine. I will be back as soon as I can. Make dining here a priority.“

“Delicious pizza. Thin, crusty, slightly salty and greasy dough. We had the cowboy surfer and black and blue pizzas. Exciting and thoughtful flavor combinations. The staff was really friendly. Not too cheap, but it’s 2025, what do you expect really.“

“I use to go to RH with my family in the 70's. Atmosphere always transported us to Hawaii. They were famous for BB ribs, drinks, unique salad (with mayo dressing) and even served a bowl of crudite' with celery, salami, etc. every meal. I didn't like the modern re model, however, NOW THIS RE BUILD iS so cool! Just like the 1970's but better!! Dim lit and Hawaiian music set the mood. I was really anxious to try the ribs again. The service was GREAT appetizer excellent but, ribs, BAD! They were not edible. Hard and chewy, like beef jerky. I was so disappointed and all of our party ordered and received the same. I may try again but won't order ribs!!!“

“Great music venue! We had a blast playing here Mother's Day for Kim and her outstanding team. Thanks, Barnoa!“

“We stumbled upon this hidden gem in Laguna on our last day there. Can’t believe we missed it! After visiting Finneys in Santa Barbara, we were expecting a lot, but this place totally exceeded our expectations. It’s right off the beach, with an incredible selection of beers. The service and food were also top-notch. If you’re looking for a great spot to grab a bite or a drink, definitely check them out!“

“Good place to go to eat, even if you are not a golfer.
First visit, we sat inside, but there is a large outdoor dining area.
I had the Western BBQ Bacon Burger. It was good, plenty of bacon and tasty BBQ sauce. We also had the Butter Toffee Cake for dessert, very good.
Table service was a little lacking, but wouldn’t keep me from a second visit.
Prices are reasonable.
Recommended.“

“The food is very tasty, good presentation! delicious 😋“

“I have been to the Sessions in Newport beach a few times and I love everything about the place, great food, great service, and the owner greeted me personally! I would 100% recommend this place for a great family meal!“

“Mulligans has everything you want in a bar. 2 separate sections for pool tables, they make one pool table a pingpong table upon request, and have delicious food! Be prepared to wait a while if you're ordering on the weekend nights! They have a back patio and allow me to bring both my non service dogs in with me inside and out. The pub people are very friendly and like to mingle with every one else. Is great!“

“I absolutely love The Bistro K. They have the best staff who have been there a while and the owner and her family are the best! A great breakfast menu makes it a perfect place to start the day. The lunch & dinner menu will keep you coming back. They have a long history in the restaurant business and it shows in every meal. It was a real pleasure to see Tony there when we were there in April. Very sorry we missed Katia- such a wonder host and just a delight to meet.

You can’t beat the prices either. I wanted to order everything on the menu!

So much fun to watch customers come in and be greeted as old friends and family. Everyone has a table at The Bistro K ❤️

5 stars all the way.“

“Seats are comfy and theater is large so it can accommodate a lot of people. Large parking area.“

“Very nice outdoor seating, great food, music. Nice place and close your o the surrounding neighborhoods!“

“We live right up the canyon and had never visited. Highly recommend!! Great food, reasonable prices, our waitress, Cassidy was so great! She was efficient with everything and just had the nicest personality. We will be back!!!“

“Phenomenal experience every time! If you are not a member of the Rancho Capistrano wine club you are missing out!!!!“

“When you taste them, you'll know he qualities they possess that you can't resist“