3 stars because the food was mediocre, service was as slow as the sunset (except the the busboy… he was so awesome we tipped him outside the bill), and atmosphere was to die for. So the average is 3. You can not beat the view. You can not beat the location. You also can not beat a dead horse which is also relatable to the service we received. Come full, come drunk, order 1 drink over an hour and enjoy the sunset
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 1
David Li
Had a lovely brunch here with a couple friends. The view from the restaurant is unreal. The restaurant window is literally right up against the sand, so much so, you barely see the sand itself. Most of the time, you only see the waves, as if you're on the water itself.
The food itself is great, but the prices are high. In terms of value, I think it's not quite worth it, but if you throw in the view and the great service, the experience overall might be worth it.
We ordered two savoury dishes and a sweet dish, and my personal favorite was the crab benedict. The tres leches french toast was the prettiest dish, but I remember the flavors to be a little too overwhelming - perhaps more fruits or creaminess would balance the sweetness and caramel better.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Sharon F.
Wow wow wow! Second time celebrating my birthday here! Amazing service as always! Incredible food, incredible ambiance! Jhoana-Paulina, the hosts, Jose and Kody were great. I’m so beyond blessed. Thank you guys for making my 26th birthday so special! Shout out to them for making such an amazing experience!! They deserve a raise for real!!
Laura Heminger
We’ve eaten here many times and we ate here in July and loved the octopus so we came back with friends. Ordered three orders of the octopus appetizer and it was so disappointing. When we were here in July, it was a generous portion, but all three orders could’ve just one order. It was like three bites of octopus.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
Jade Velasquez
Splashes Restaurant exceeded my expectations. The food is delicious, and everything we ordered was perfectly cooked. The staff is friendly and attentive, and the ambiance by the water makes it a special place for dinner. Highly recommend trying their seafood pasta!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Ivana Siska
Delicious, beautifully presented food in a breathtaking setting.
We met for lunch, we’re seated promptly, and enjoyed the view. The service was typically great, with the exception of it being really slow. My guest set for at least 10, maybe 15 minutes before anyone came around to take their order. I’m only mentioning it because the restaurant was not crowded; maybe only three or four tables of people.
Once our server did attend to us, they were great.
A perfect place to take out of town visitors
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Sergio Mendez
Had an excellent experience from the moment I drove in the the parking lot. The Vallet were super cool group of guys and the front desk was very help on guiding me to the restaurant down the elevator to the 1st floor. It was a bit warm that day and the host sat me in a great location where there was breeze with an excellent view (but every seat has an excellent view). Matthias was my server and he really made my lunch experience here amazing. Since it was my first here I wanted a recommendation but I really wanted to try the Lobster Bisque, so he recommended that if i order the Lobster Bisque, I also order the Steak. Now he mentioned his favorite dish for lunch was the Risotto and adding protein but didnt necessarily push me to get his favorite dish. I felt like he knew the menu well and and was able to explain my two options and help find what I wanted to order and im glad I ordered the steak along with the Lobster Bisque. Im definitely coming back for The Risotto though. Once I finshed my lunch, I was really enjoying the scenery and wanted to continue enjoying some drinks but didnt want hold a table for another guest. So since most 5 star hotels have a bar, I asked Matthias where the bar is located and he pointed me to the right direction. Thats where I met more AMAZING staff (Alma, Josh, and Nicole). Josh and Alam switched shifts during my visit but they both made some of the best drinks so I can enjoy the sun set. The bar wasn't very busy since it was a Wednesday so I felt like a VIP. Nicole was telling on how she never gets tired of the sunset there and meeting all kinds of people. She was so polite and even mentioned that next time visit, I should also visit during dinner time since since they dim the lights and makes for perfect dates...point is I can go on and on how well my visit was. Definitely will be returning several times for Breakfast, Lunch, dinner, or just for drinks at the bar.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nick S
The view is the saving grace of this restaurant as well as the service but sadly the menu reads better than the food tastes. Lunch was pretty rough, just really bland, not executed well and dying to be pretentious high end. The highlight were the fish tacos but, the risotto was rice thinned with tomato water, missing the starchy velvety texture when executed correctly. The salads , fine you want to count out some leaves and place elegantly on the plate, I can go with that but when you do that the proteins need to be cooked perfectly. The added shrimp , 4 to be exact, were grilled to rubber and the salmon served soggy skin side up and stunk. The flat bread was interesting, the dough wasn’t quite bread or a cracker, just a stodgy vessel with some cheese and sausage. Honestly, just grab a table and a few glasses of wine and take in the view.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
Liam Tenney
The only reason to come here is to look at the amazing view. The food is so insanely expensive and it’s not really good honestly. My mom also asked 3 times for no salt on her potato’s because she needs to follow a low sodium diet, and when it came out it was covered in salt flakes. Also the food isn’t that fresh and my mom got a stomach ache after eating there. It’s a shame because we live close by but they have no passion for actually making the food good because the location is so amazing. For this price range you are better off going to nicks or selannes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
Paige Ellwood
It was a fantastic experience. The ambiance was perfect, and the staff went out of their way to make it special. The lobster bisque was divine! We'll be back for sure.
We enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving dinner at Splashes. The restaurant is perched just above the beach with beautiful views and sea breezes coming in through the open doors. The food was delicious and the service was outstanding. We will definitely be back!
Nik
Excellent food, breathtaking views , extremely professional stuff, and overall a great great experience. Will go back for sure.
Andrew W
Splashes delivered one of the most memorable dining experiences I’ve had in Laguna Beach. The oceanfront setting alone is worth the visit—waves literally crash beneath the terrace—but the food and service made the night exceptional. We started with the artisan focaccia and whipped ricotta, which was silky, perfectly seasoned, and honestly one of the best bites of the evening. The whole roasted branzino was cooked beautifully with crisp skin and tender, flaky meat, and the celery & truffle agnolotti was rich, decadent, and plated like a work of art.
We were celebrating an anniversary, and the Splashes team went above and beyond with rose petals and a personalized crème brûlée that was as thoughtful as it was delicious. Service was warm, patient, and attentive, and we were treated as if our evening genuinely mattered to the team.
If you go, book around sunset and request a window or terrace table—it’s hard to imagine a better setting in Orange County. Valet is available at the Surf & Sand Resort, and the restaurant is an easy elevator ride down to the dining room. Splashes isn’t just a meal—it’s an experience, and we can’t wait to return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Charlotte
Really great spot to celebrate a special occasion. You can't beat the view. The service is outstanding and food is delicious (even if it is is bit expensive?
Cassidy
Stunning restaurant, great food, excellent service. Unfortunately there was a child sitting next to us blaring shooting videos at full blast and the service didn't tell him to stop even after our polite request- what a way to ruin an excellent view and the crashing of the waves!
3 stars because the food was mediocre, service was as slow as the sunset (except the the busboy… he was so awesome we tipped him outside the bill), and atmosphere was to die for. So the average is 3.
You can not beat the view. You can not beat the location. You also can not beat a dead horse which is also relatable to the service we received. Come full, come drunk, order 1 drink over an hour and enjoy the sunset
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 1
Had a lovely brunch here with a couple friends. The view from the restaurant is unreal. The restaurant window is literally right up against the sand, so much so, you barely see the sand itself. Most of the time, you only see the waves, as if you're on the water itself.
The food itself is great, but the prices are high. In terms of value, I think it's not quite worth it, but if you throw in the view and the great service, the experience overall might be worth it.
We ordered two savoury dishes and a sweet dish, and my personal favorite was the crab benedict. The tres leches french toast was the prettiest dish, but I remember the flavors to be a little too overwhelming - perhaps more fruits or creaminess would balance the sweetness and caramel better.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Wow wow wow! Second time celebrating my birthday here! Amazing service as always! Incredible food, incredible ambiance! Jhoana-Paulina, the hosts, Jose and Kody were great. I’m so beyond blessed. Thank you guys for making my 26th birthday so special! Shout out to them for making such an amazing experience!! They deserve a raise for real!!
We’ve eaten here many times and we ate here in July and loved the octopus so we came back with friends. Ordered three orders of the octopus appetizer and it was so disappointing. When we were here in July, it was a generous portion, but all three orders could’ve just one order. It was like three bites of octopus.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
Splashes Restaurant exceeded my expectations. The food is delicious, and everything we ordered was perfectly cooked. The staff is friendly and attentive, and the ambiance by the water makes it a special place for dinner. Highly recommend trying their seafood pasta!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Delicious, beautifully presented food in a breathtaking setting.
We met for lunch, we’re seated promptly, and enjoyed the view. The service was typically great, with the exception of it being really slow. My guest set for at least 10, maybe 15 minutes before anyone came around to take their order. I’m only mentioning it because the restaurant was not crowded; maybe only three or four tables of people.
Once our server did attend to us, they were great.
A perfect place to take out of town visitors
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Had an excellent experience from the moment I drove in the the parking lot. The Vallet were super cool group of guys and the front desk was very help on guiding me to the restaurant down the elevator to the 1st floor. It was a bit warm that day and the host sat me in a great location where there was breeze with an excellent view (but every seat has an excellent view). Matthias was my server and he really made my lunch experience here amazing. Since it was my first here I wanted a recommendation but I really wanted to try the Lobster Bisque, so he recommended that if i order the Lobster Bisque, I also order the Steak. Now he mentioned his favorite dish for lunch was the Risotto and adding protein but didnt necessarily push me to get his favorite dish. I felt like he knew the menu well and and was able to explain my two options and help find what I wanted to order and im glad I ordered the steak along with the Lobster Bisque. Im definitely coming back for The Risotto though. Once I finshed my lunch, I was really enjoying the scenery and wanted to continue enjoying some drinks but didnt want hold a table for another guest. So since most 5 star hotels have a bar, I asked Matthias where the bar is located and he pointed me to the right direction. Thats where I met more AMAZING staff (Alma, Josh, and Nicole). Josh and Alam switched shifts during my visit but they both made some of the best drinks so I can enjoy the sun set. The bar wasn't very busy since it was a Wednesday so I felt like a VIP. Nicole was telling on how she never gets tired of the sunset there and meeting all kinds of people. She was so polite and even mentioned that next time visit, I should also visit during dinner time since since they dim the lights and makes for perfect dates...point is I can go on and on how well my visit was. Definitely will be returning several times for Breakfast, Lunch, dinner, or just for drinks at the bar.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The view is the saving grace of this restaurant as well as the service but sadly the menu reads better than the food tastes. Lunch was pretty rough, just really bland, not executed well and dying to be pretentious high end. The highlight were the fish tacos but, the risotto was rice thinned with tomato water, missing the starchy velvety texture when executed correctly. The salads , fine you want to count out some leaves and place elegantly on the plate, I can go with that but when you do that the proteins need to be cooked perfectly. The added shrimp , 4 to be exact, were grilled to rubber and the salmon served soggy skin side up and stunk. The flat bread was interesting, the dough wasn’t quite bread or a cracker, just a stodgy vessel with some cheese and sausage. Honestly, just grab a table and a few glasses of wine and take in the view.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
The only reason to come here is to look at the amazing view. The food is so insanely expensive and it’s not really good honestly. My mom also asked 3 times for no salt on her potato’s because she needs to follow a low sodium diet, and when it came out it was covered in salt flakes. Also the food isn’t that fresh and my mom got a stomach ache after eating there. It’s a shame because we live close by but they have no passion for actually making the food good because the location is so amazing. For this price range you are better off going to nicks or selannes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
It was a fantastic experience. The ambiance was perfect, and the staff went out of their way to make it special. The lobster bisque was divine! We'll be back for sure.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
We enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving dinner at Splashes. The restaurant is perched just above the beach with beautiful views and sea breezes coming in through the open doors. The food was delicious and the service was outstanding. We will definitely be back!
Excellent food, breathtaking views , extremely professional stuff, and overall a great great experience. Will go back for sure.
Splashes delivered one of the most memorable dining experiences I’ve had in Laguna Beach. The oceanfront setting alone is worth the visit—waves literally crash beneath the terrace—but the food and service made the night exceptional. We started with the artisan focaccia and whipped ricotta, which was silky, perfectly seasoned, and honestly one of the best bites of the evening. The whole roasted branzino was cooked beautifully with crisp skin and tender, flaky meat, and the celery & truffle agnolotti was rich, decadent, and plated like a work of art.
We were celebrating an anniversary, and the Splashes team went above and beyond with rose petals and a personalized crème brûlée that was as thoughtful as it was delicious. Service was warm, patient, and attentive, and we were treated as if our evening genuinely mattered to the team.
If you go, book around sunset and request a window or terrace table—it’s hard to imagine a better setting in Orange County. Valet is available at the Surf & Sand Resort, and the restaurant is an easy elevator ride down to the dining room. Splashes isn’t just a meal—it’s an experience, and we can’t wait to return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Really great spot to celebrate a special occasion. You can't beat the view. The service is outstanding and food is delicious (even if it is is bit expensive?
Stunning restaurant, great food, excellent service. Unfortunately there was a child sitting next to us blaring shooting videos at full blast and the service didn't tell him to stop even after our polite request- what a way to ruin an excellent view and the crashing of the waves!
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