New American Restaurants near Dana Point, CA

“Great food, service and atmosphere.“

“Great food, great wine, great service! I have been here 3x in the past month and each time marvel at the delicious food and wonderful wine along with getting to know the owners which has been such a treat! I can highly recommend them for lunch, happy hour and weekend evening entertainment!“

“Came here a couple nights before a wedding event.

We had a later reservation and upon entering we learned that technically the restaurant closes at that time, but since the system accepted our reservation they were staying open for us.

Not once did they rush us or make us feel bad. There were 10 of us and 2 little kids. They had all the patience in the world and infact were insistent for us to take our time and enjoy the amazing food.

The meal itself was very nice and I would highly recommend this spot for great Italian food. The restaurant is very big and the outdoor space is cute!“

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

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

“Consistently Fantastic Brunch Spot Near the Marriott!

Every time we stay at the Marriott Laguna Cliffs in Dana Point, we make a point to walk over to What A Dish for brunch, and it never disappoints. The outdoor seating is charming and relaxed, perfect for soaking in the coastal vibe.

This visit was no exception, the food was absolutely delicious. Everything we ordered was spot-on, flavorful, and came out quickly. You order at the counter, but don’t let that fool you, the service is top-notch. The staff was incredibly attentive, regularly checking in to top off coffee and water, and making sure we had everything we needed.

What really impressed me is how consistently every staff member went out of their way to be helpful and kind. Everyone had a smile, and the whole experience gave off warm, happy vacation energy. You do tip at the time of ordering, which can be a gamble at some places, but here the service went above and beyond. Honestly, one of the best service experiences I’ve had anywhere. This is how it should be handled everywhere.

Can’t recommend this spot enough if you’re in Dana Point. Great food, great vibes, and genuinely lovely people. We’ll be back, again and again!“

“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!!!!“

“I like stopping there on bike rides“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“By far the best venue to experience karaoke. Full Stage, Full Sound and Lighting..and the largest legal library of Karaoke songs in Orange County. Noah and the entire staff is amazing.“

“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“

“Everything we got was really good. The short rib sandwich was amazing. The food was well balanced and flavorful. The bread on all the sandwiches tastes lovely and fresh. We got the mango and the passionruit lemonade. They were home made and delicious. The service was good and it was a great experience.“

“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!!!“

“My new favorite Happy Hour place in Laguna Beach.Great deal! Excellent price for good quality wines plus discounted food menu. Pizza of the day is half off during HH. Artisan wood fired pizzas are fabulous. Extensive wine list you won’t find in any other pizza place. Great place for larger parties.“

“Had dinner reservations for 4 with my sister who was here from out of town. Seated very promptly , our waiter Jason and Manager were outstanding, very attentive yet not hovering. The food was delicious, the meatloaf was outstanding a combination of three different meats, so flavorful, and tender. My sister's chicken piccata and the shared appetizers amongst us were over the top good“

“I love this place! I am on an anti-inflammatory diet and this is one of the few places I can eat. Double bonus - they serve grass fed beef, which is the only beef I can have. Their burgers are one of the best I have ever had. My personal favorite is the California Burger. It is amazing!

Dietary restrictions: They have grass fed beef, which is perfect for anti-inflammatory diet.“

“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!“

“Loved their chocolate desert!“

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

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

“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!“

“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.“

“Great location in San Clemente for delicious food and great service. I recommend the brussel sprouts! Yum.

Parking: There is a free parking lot just around the corner that had plenty of spots, but I imagine on weekends it's probably harder to find parking.“

“I recently visited the Montage in Laguna Beach with my mom, and it was one of the best experiences we've ever had in California. Everything was flawless — starting from the moment we arrived. The entrance was beautiful and welcoming, and valet parking was quick, smooth, and handled with genuine courtesy. It really set the tone for what turned out to be a magical evening. Once seated, we were taken care of by our incredible server, Fernando. He was kind, attentive, and made us feel completely at ease. His service made the night even more special. The food was outstanding — high quality and full of flavor. I had the shrimp, and it was honestly the best I've had in California in a long time. Every bite was perfect. Yes, it's on the pricier side, but the experience is worth every penny. From service to ambiance to the food, everything was exceptional. We're already looking forward to coming back on our next trip to Laguna. Highly recommend!“

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

“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!!!“

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

“great NY vibe with good food“

“We want to thank CPK for honoring Veterans today. They gave a delicious complementary supper tonight with a nice menu. The food was delicious. The staff was excellent. Service was fast. Manager thanked the veterans and gave us a handshake and a flag. He even had a table set for the missing soldiers , sailors, and Marines. Happy that everyone in restaurant was having a great time. Staff was all friendly and excellent. We eat here about ever other month. Very affordable, great pizzas and pastas“

“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.“

“Great wines and knowledgable plus friendly staff!“

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

“Always great wine and food here!“

“My fiancé and I came to celebrate our last anniversary before our wedding and our experience exceeded our expectations. It was our first time visiting, but the attention to detail - including a celebratory glass of prosecco, custom menus, and a special dessert - made for the most memorable night. Not to mention how delicious the food was and how amazing the service was. The photo booth was such a fun way to end the night. We will definitely be returning!!“

“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!“

“Food wasn’t bad, the A5 Wagyu burger was underwhelming, however blue cheese burger and wings and Truffle fries were good
Be careful you automatically get charged 3$ if you just touch the iPad
Though it is written on it however we didn’t know that just by trying a silly tik tak tok game just twice for fun we were charged 3$ on the bill!!!
It didn’t feel right at all!!“

“Delicious 🥰familiale belle vague 🌊 beach 🏝️☀️“

“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.“

“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 ?“

“Fresh, tasty, great combination of flavors and options on both salads and sammies. The natural sodas are a nice touch. Gotta try a cookie!💛 Staff has been consistently courteous and responsive. I’ve been three times. I CRAVE their salads.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“Stopped here yesterday with a bunch of hungry Harley riders the staff was super cool & friendly my hamburger was out of this world now that’s what I call a hamburger & fast service we all left a good tip for the hardworking staff I gotta hit this spot again soon“

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