New American Restaurants near Laguna Hills, CA

“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.“

“GameCraft Brewing provides a fun place for game enthusiasts to gather. There was a variety of drink options to choose from - beers, wines, soda, water. There was also bottled drinks like tea in a glass container behind the bar area. The food was decent pub food.

There was plenty of parking. I liked that they had board games and pinball machines available. I had an enjoyable time here. The downsides were that the place was a bit small and hot during the summer with only fans running.

Drinks: I like drinks on the sweeter side. The bartender was nice and let me try different flavors to pick what I like.
* Seltzer - Baja Blast 5/5 - Good sweet drink that didn't feel like I'm drinking alcohol.
* Ube Painkilla 3.5/5 - Pretty drink, light purple. A bit sweet, but had a cough syrup aftertaste.
* Cider drink 4/5 - Kinda like an apple cider drink, but more beer-y.
* Soju Cocktail - Didn't get this. I thought it'd be sweet from the online menu. Apparently it has a ginger and serrano chili pepper taste, so not what I wanted.

FOOD:
* BBQ Wings 4/5 - Juicy and flavorful wings.
* Lemon Pepper Wings 3/5 - Not bad, but kinda dry and really sour.
* Cesar Salad 4/5 - Who orders salad for a game night? Jk. It was actually pretty good. Plenty of dressings and shaved cheese on top.
* Pretzel Bites 3.5/5 - Dense pretzel bread bites with sea salt on top.
* Flatbread 3.5/5 - Flatbread okay. Ours came with shredded pork on top that was kinda dry and had no flavor.
* Fried Wonton 2/5 - Crispy wontons filled with cream cheese. The cream cheese was a bit much to eat.
* Egg Rolls 2/5 - Crispy vegetable egg rolls. Had a bitter aftertaste.“

“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!“

“Ate at the Jamboree location in Tustin and cashier Ali was courteous, kind, knowledgeable and very helpful in helping us understand the menu options. Even offered a couple samples to make sure we ordered something we’d enjoy. Great customer service!“

“had the ahi tuna salad. it was awesome.“

“Food was awesome! Husband got a mushroom swiss burger and said it was amazing ... daughter had a side of Mac and Cheese which she loved and it wasn't a box kraft like some restaurants try to do. I had tomato soup and it was creamy and not to acidic! Yum!
Service was pretty none existent since u order on a machine and then go uo can get your own food after the buzzer and tables we were able to find pretty well on a Sunday afternoon.
Overall great experience“

“Great food, service and atmosphere.“

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

“Best comfort food ever! The thing I miss about living in California the most is the spaghetti grilled cheese at Burnt Crumbs. It will change your life. I would order three at a time and eat half a sandwich each day for lunch. If you guys wanna franchise in Detroit let me know lol 💯 💯 🔥 🔥“

“The food isn’t as wonderful as it use to be but it’s still very good. I’m sure they are doing the best they can under the circumstances!“

“Great food and easy going vibe“

“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“

“Hit or miss from my experience. Some of the food options are great (burgers, pizzas) but some are absolutely ridiculously horrible (the sliders, never get them; you're better off buying frozen angus burgers and microwaving them).

Service is overall pretty good based on who you get. My servers have always been pretty friendly and helpful, and the bartenders have been pretty attentive and happy from my experience.

This spot gets a super packed on weekends, and gets very loud. Very warm and dim interior, making for a very chill vibe overall.

Worth checking out if you're in the area and looking for decent food at a pretty fair price.“

“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“

“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!“

“I love this place…!!! Been coming here for many years…!!! Never disappoints… tasting menu is a must try at least once… you may try it again and again and never get the same thing… but ALWAYS good…!!!“

“This location is the best! The staff is very nice and attentive. My husband and I live in walking distance so we're here once a week. The food is much better here than the location on Alton. The only thing I'd change about this location is the smell of rancid standing water / funky garbage near the bathrooms.“

“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!“

“Loved their chocolate desert!“

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

“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!“

“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!“

“Went with my parents for an early Christmas dinner and service was great… food was delicious… and atmosphere was on point!“

“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 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!“

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

“The Chili Fries, and the Stand Burger is the Best.“

“great NY vibe with good food“

“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.“

“There was 7 of us in town for a conference and we stumbled upon Hole in the Wall Burger! Burger was delicious the service outstanding and special sauce of the chart’s. Next time I’m in the area I’ll definitely be stopping by and have a burger!“

“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!“

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

“#SuperBowlSundayBrunch 🌷🤙😜🥳😎“

“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!!“

“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!!“

“Came here randomly to get a to go sandwich while on a wildfire detail from out of state and the patrons and the staff and owner were extremely kind. Got the recommended Cuban sandwich and it's one of the Top 5 sandwiches I've ever had.
Had a band playing and my only regret about the whole experience is that I couldn't stay and enjoy the incredible atmosphere. Made me feel at home from Tennessee. Class establishment. 5 🌟s.“

“Always good food and great service at this location.“

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

“Delicious 🥰familiale belle vague 🌊 beach 🏝️☀️“

“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!!!!“

“It was my first time here, and I found this place while searching for a restaurant nearby. I was curious, so I decided to check it out. I was amazed by the delicious food and professional service. I especially loved the vibe of the place; it was really great! Definitely worth the visit!“

“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.“

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

“The atmosphere is a wonderful and relaxing change from the high tech look of too many restaurants today. It's softly lit and comforting. The food is excellent. The branzino was cooked perfectly, the side dish of french lentils was a treat and the apple pie delicious. It's a treasure.“