New American Restaurants near Dana Point, CA

“Great food, service and atmosphere.“

“I’ve lived in OC since 1977 and enjoyed Dana Point so many times, but this was my first visit to Jack’s. Clearly, I have been missing out! We went during the 4-6pm happy hour seating; enjoying cheaper drinks and smaller portions. It seemed that everyone there was a known regular except us. We were treated just as well. The vibe is casual, but the wait staff is first class! It would be hard in OC to find better service, and we were just on the patio. Make sure to allow the bread bowl at your table. Tonight it was a garlic focaccia which alone would be a money maker and it was free! Delicious cocktails, awesome food, and we did share a chocolate brownie that ate like lava cake. So good! We’ll be back with friends many times, I’m sure of it.“

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

“Our new favorite brunch spot! Food was absolutely delicious. The staff was very friendly. We went on a Sunday morning and it was busy but food came out very fast. The food was SO GOOD! The highlight was definitely the jojos egg Benedict. But everything we got was delicious from the breakfast burrito, the French toast, buckwheat blueberry pancakes, omelette. We literally ordered more food after our first round because it was so good!! The location is great! Easy parking! Highly recommend!“

“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“

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

“We needed something quick while we were out and wanted something that would leave us feeling good - found Urban Plates and it exceeded what we were looking for! My grass-fed steak was tender and juicy, the mac n cheese was comforting and delicious, and the side of beets paired well with the goat cheese. My husband enjoyed his crispy chicken sandwich and fries. I love the variety of food offered at Urban Plates and knowing my body is getting high quality nutrients while enjoying something delicious!

They also offer a membership discount - worth it if you live nearby and frequent this place!“

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

“Bar Jane may or may not fit in with the rest of downtown San Clemente, but if you’re pondering this question, you soon realize that it’s beside the point. The cocktails here are fantastic, and if that’s an unexpected surprise, then just roll with it and change your expectations to fit the facts. Ethan has served us at each of our visits and has always taken great care of us with drink suggestions and overall service. My understanding is that they share a kitchen with The Cellar next door, but we’ve only ever ordered drinks at Jane. I just wish I lived closer.“

“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“

“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.“

“We didnt have a reservation but got lucky we only had to wait 10 ish minutes and they called us. We really love the pizzas here and get the mushroom pizza with the spicy pepperoni (its both called something different on the menu but thats essentially what it is) and love to pair it off with nice wine selections.
It is mostly high top seating which isnt my favorite but its fine. It is sort of cramped in there but had space enough to get by tables. Its also kind of loud in there but from general speaking noise.“

“Fine dining, excellent service, amazing food“

“My fiancee and I are die hard fans and come here as often as we are able. The sandwiches are simple fresh classics that truly feel homemade. They have options for every taste. The roasted vegetable is so good that even as a man who doesn't eat a lot of vegetables, I would have it again and again. They also have a very diverse selection of drink options, including hard to find sodas. The staff couldn't be friendlier. Thanks Dad 👍“

“Loved their chocolate desert!“

“Tyler, our server, was amazing, attentive, and just so cool! Thank you for being so nice by providing such excellent service! Lively spot with the entire bar full on a weekday. Cool live music. Food was prepared deliciously. Clean restaurant and restrooms. Will be coming back😊“

“Ok, so first up it was a bit pricey. But holy cow the burgers were all amazing, the place was clean, staff was wonderful. If you want ridiculously tasty burgers and don't mind paying for it... I'll give this place 5/5 stars for sure.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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!!!“

“A really great experience.
Friendly and knowledgeable servers paying attention to our needs and recommending dishes.
Excellent food with unique tastes....try the brussel sprouts appetizer with maple syrup, pecans, and raisins.
We plan to go back again even though it is 40 miles from home.“

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

“Our first visit to Bushfire Kitchen was a great experience. My burger was delicious, and the Thai Bowl was really good as well. We also ordered the sweet potato fries, which were probably the best I’ve ever had — perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, which is hard to pull off since sweet potatoes can get mushy so easily. We’ll definitely be adding this spot into our regular restaurant rotation.“

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

“First and foremost, Trevor’s offers plenty of gluten-free options and actually uses a separate fryer for gluten free foods. With a family member recently diagnosed with celiac disease, this was a huge treat! He could actually order fried chicken without the concern of cross contamination. On another note, we went there on a Monday night with a party of five and had to wait about 15 to 20 minutes for a table when the restaurant was not very crowded at all. It wasn’t a big deal but you would think we would be able to be seated right away. Also inside the restaurant it was so cold. It would be nice to be able to dine without wearing a jacket, but that was not the case. Overall, it was delicious food and well worth the minor hiccups for the gluten-free accommodations.“

“great NY vibe with good food“

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

“Great service, great food!!👏“

“Excellent everything!!!!!“

“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!!!“

“Delicious 🥰familiale belle vague 🌊 beach 🏝️☀️“

“Always great wine and food here!“

“Great wines and knowledgable plus friendly staff!“

“A newer brewer in town... yet supposedly started by a former brewmaster of a more established brewery...

Yet they're very quickly becoming one of my favorites in all of Southern California... I'll wholesale whatever I can for myself back to Mid-America whenever I'm in town...“

“Such a wonderful experience! Service, atmosphere, food, drinks. Patrick was our server and he was so sweet! He even brought us free dessert for celebrations we were having. Everyone is so kind and accommodating. The brick chicken and rack was super yummy too! Would definitely come back and recommend everyone go! Oh! And the breathtaking view of course, right on the water.“

“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.“

“Had a client dinner here at The Loft while they were in town evaluating Laguna Beach properties — the setting alone sealed the deal on their interest in the area. The restaurant sits within the Montage resort with sweeping views that are genuinely hard to beat. The menu is thoughtfully put together with quality ingredients and an impressive wine selection. Service was polished and attentive. As someone who regularly brings buyers to Laguna Beach, I find that a meal at The Loft does more for their decision than any property brochure ever could. The atmosphere communicates the lifestyle perfectly.“

“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!“

“Great food! Great vibe! Great time!“

“Great food, especially for the price in Laguna.

This Finneys location is particularly enjoyable, being one of the only 'watering holes' in Laguna, comprised of 30% locals every night.

They have great bar tenders overall, however there is high turnover. You'll be lucky if Kelsie is at the bar to serve you. The group of locals that rack it up 6-7 days a week were extremely disappointed to learn that she is temporarily only working 1 day per week. She contributed greatly to building the community here and its unfortunate that I won't be seeing as many locals as a result.“

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

“Breezy Experience #breezy #goodfood #filipinofusion #brunch #familybusiness“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Seen this place for years and never stopped in. Been several times over the last year or so and it’s much more lively than you’d be lead to believe by appearances.

Happy hour is a great deal. Dog friendly patio is a plus but tight so leave the yappy dogs at home.

Had a number of different servers/assistants and they’ve all been super lovely.

Food is very consistent and delicious. Just has that good, locally owned je ne sais quoi.

Good lil haunt & will be frequenting“

“A friend recommended this place for great burgers. When we walked in , we weren't even sure if they served food, but the food is amazing! Onion rings are so good and their hamburgers are made with angus beef. I would go back here again, and again, and again.“