Let me start off with saying I have not been impressed with the staff here in the past. With that…read moresaid.....l was blown away at how friendly and accommodating they are now! So kind, knowledgeable and timely! My friend and I sat at the bar and had the best bartenders ever! Shout out to Lacey and Asna, thank you for making our experience wonderful. Also, I must mention the two managers that were asking how everything was and if there was anything we might need.... Thank you Kat and Ashley for making us feel so welcome! Food and ambiance was terrific as well. We will definitely be back again real soon!

I love Jimmy's tavern. It can be difficult to find a place that the kids will also enjoy and this…read moreis it. Everything from the salads, to the sandwiches, and the cocktails is perfection. Service has always been top notch.

Best Dive bar on Del Prado! Open at 8am and the beer is ice…read morecold. Love the cool surfer vibe that is authentic. The owner is still surfing Trestles and ripping. I love the Chowder and the fish tacos

Popular with locals, The Shwack is one of the few moderately priced restaurants in Dana Point. It's…read morea casual place where you order at the counter and find a table inside or outside. Menu ranges from burgers and sandwiches to tacos and salads. I got the fish tacos, $15 for three. The spicy pico de gallo does have a kick, so order it on the side if you are sensitive to heat. They come with some shredded cabbage on the side - there's no dressing on it so it's not coleslaw and I'm not sure what it's purpose is, other than to give you something on the side. The tacos are ok - I wish they were bigger for the price. My husband ordered the Good Vibes Veggie Burger. On the positive side, they make their own veggie patty from zucchini, mushrooms, onions, potato and quinoa. Unfortunately, the patty doesn't have much flavor and is mushy and bland. I think the regular burgers are the thing to order here, as that is what everyone seemed to be ordering.

Love coming here whenever I have a chance. Came with a group and we decided to split the small…read moreplate and three entrees. We came for a birthday and everyone was so kind and wished them a happy birthday. I've been here before and everything I've ever had was delicious. The artichoke and kale dip was perfect. The chips were light and crispy and was the perfect vessel for piling on loads of the dip. Out table inhaled the chips in under five minutes. Out of the baby back ribs, pork chop and rib eye I have to say that the rib eye was so tender, so moist and so flavorful. I might have to order it every time I come back. We were so full we didn't get any dessert but they still have the butter cake on their menu. So I'll definitely have to get it again next time

I've been here many times and I love everything on their menu. I would recommend making a…read morereservation especially on the busy weekends. Restaurant is nice with some booth seating in the back and even some outdoor seating. Parking itself-there's a small lot next to it but it's almost always full so you can do some street parking in the surrounding neighborhoods. When I last came here, we ordered the red pepper hummus to share and I ordered the French dip! It was excellent as per usual and the service was good. One critique I would have though is that one of the people in my party was a vegetarian and had ordered a veggie burger. The people bringing out the food accidentally swapped the plates of someone else in the party who had ordered a chicken blt when placing the dishes in front of each person. Unfortunately the vegetarian did take a bite of the chicken blt before realizing it was not the veggie burger and spit it out. It is what it is and was an honest mistake. But, maybe confirming the dishes before placing it in front of the person would be good. First time it's happened but we hope it doesn't happen again because we love this place!

We will be coming back here for breakfast Service was amazing and very quick despite being super…read morebusy. Loved the food. Nothing was disappointing.

This place is a great find. The food, service, and ambiance are spot on! The indoor seating is like…read morereliving that warm & cozy throw-back cafe. They even have a fantastic assortment of signed headshots of old-timer celebrities who have visited. The outdoor seating is very comfortable and pleasant. The Cheeseburger and Fries were one of the best & biggest, ever. The cup of clam chowder was also excellent. We actually came back the next morning and enjoyed a delicious breakfast. The pancake and sausage were so good. I had the huevos rancheros and was very pleased with the delicious flavor, mild heat, and generous portion. I would highly recommend this place for lunch or breakfast.

I came here for dinner on a Sunday night, and it was a very good experience…read more This restaurant has loud, trendy bar vibes for a family dinner, a date night, or even a girls night out. The parking is definitely limited, as I saw from other reviews on Yelp. On a Sunday evening it was very easy, however. The menu is fairly limited, and I wish they had a few more fish options, though the salmon I saw looked absolutely incredible. I had the chicken caesar salad. The chicken was a large portion, and so tasty. The dressing was SO good. They did forget dressing on both of our salads which was kind of annoying for a simple caesar (so we had to get a side of it). That being said, once we did get dressing, I seriously could've drank the stuff it was so yummy. They also scorch their tomatoes in the salad to perfection. I also tried the crispy tuna appetizer, which was surprisingly different from similar versions I have had at sushi restaurants (not in a bad way). The fish was very fresh and I would order this appetizer again. I think it came with five fairly small pieces (just so you know how many to order for a crowd). If you are feeling dessert, they have an incredible (and massive) butter cake!

Great Saturday evening dinner. The front staff are very friendly, great upfront team…read more Started off with the Meatballs, this was not a very good dish. They were hard and dry on the outside...not moist...must have been heated up poorly. The Farmers Market Salad was great...fresh peaches and burrata cheese...so good! The Wedge Salad is exceptional, as well. Not pictured. The Crispy Rice Sushi was very, very good. Spicy and the Wasabi was just the right mix. The Steak Frits was prepared perfectly at Medium Rare with the chimmi-churi green sauce complimented the steak perfectly. Although getting fries with your steak dinner seems more of a lunch side and not a dinner side. However, the fries were seasoned and tasted good. We didn't order drinks...we were more hungry and wanted to save room for the Butter Cake dessert! Incredible...this is a must have. I highly recommend this place. You'll have a very good time...food, et all.

I used to come here all the time, and it's still one of those places that feels like home the…read moremoment you walk in. The bartenders are absolutely amazing and they somehow always remember what you like. Becca and Erin truly make this place what it is -- they're the kind of people who turn a quick stop into the highlight of your night. That said, you really can't go wrong with anyone behind the bar or on the floor. Every person I've met here has been welcoming, fun, and genuinely invested in making your experience enjoyable. I don't live nearby anymore, but I make a point to stop in every time I'm back in the area because the staff is that great. If you're looking for a restaurant/bar with great vibes, great drinks, and even better people, this is it. I'll keep coming back whenever I can. I MISS YOU ALL!!!!!!

1st time and never be back . Ordered slider plate , clam chowder and rice with beef and fried eggs…read more.The bread was burned on the bottom . Informed to server . She stated :"sorry that is the way we made " . Very disappointed . . Their check included cc fee without let customer know about it . We have cash if they let us know . Please check your bill before you paid .

Turk's never disappoints!…read more I don't get down to Dana Point often, but when I do Turk's is a must. The food, the drink, the service, and the ambience are always great! We had a fun and great meal. Shout out to our server, Cheri. She delivered our meal perfectly and helped make it fun. Pro tip: Get the fried Zucchini! It's generously portioned and awesome. I washed my meal down with a couple of Maker's rocks and a Coors Light as one does. Long live Turk's. Cheers!

Love that it's at the pier. Drinks are pretty standard. Full bar. Great views sitting inside and…read moreoutside. Service is horrible. It's more of a bar. Don't bother ordering food. It takes forever and even the drinks take awhile. We went to cancel our food and she said it's coming. She wasn't too friendly the entire time. I feel bad but at the same time I tried to be friendly and nice so I feel uncomfortable when people aren't friendly. We gave her our card right when the food came to charge. We finished our food and still didn't get the card back. I finally found our server and waited awhile for her to finally charge the card. Only saving grace was that she apologized for the slow service when she handed the receipt to sign. The fish and chips were sub. Definitely not worth it. Just go for the drinks and view

With sadness I make this post...the only restaurant we trust with our breakfast!…read more The most amazing frittata ever! We had to visit one more time before closing on Christmas Eve! We loved that you allow pets on the patio so we didn't have to leave our yorkie at home! Please add the frittata onto the menu at Giana Thank you so much for everything!

A must go place for pastry, brunch and good service. Everything was exceptional- I wish I could…read morehave ordered one of everything on the menu. When you get the bread right - everything else is easy - yet the food still went beyond that. Yum yum, will be back again.

Graduation party here!…read more It's right on the beach, beautiful beach with wide open walkways and cafe you stand in long lines to get your order! But we reserved a portion of the restaurant hired a band and catering and it was wonderful! Their staff helped set up and clean up, it was very special a nd we can't thank you enough!

Hi Foodies, have I got a treat for all of you. Doheny State Beach with a pass or pay for parking…read moreis cheap and park right by the Cafe. Adian and all the people are great. Adian is the one who cooks up these delicious soups and meats for tacos and sandwiches. The patio is facing the ocean and lots of lounge chairs and tables with umbrellas for shade. The food is the best in town, take my word! Delicious burgers, tacos, poke and salads and Mexican corn fabulous. Tomato soup and potato soup deserve an award, best I've ever tasted. The brisket is beyond amazing, tasty and so tender you can cut it with Your tongue! Poke is big and full of goodies with crab and tuna. Shakes are cool and refreshing while sitting in the sun. Being there is like being on vacation..... but we live here! Enjoy and say Lenore sent you.

We kicked off our evening at Wine Experience with the chorizo stuffed dates--sweet, smoky, and…read morewrapped in crisp bacon with a touch of whipped fig crema that made each bite worth while! If you can, try the warm smoked almonds and olives; they're smoked perfection with bright lemon zest and paired beautifully with whatever you're having. The food throughout was absolutely delicious, with thoughtful, elevated small plates that felt refined. The standout on the spring menu? Those beef Wellington puffs--tender filet mignon wrapped in golden, flaky pastry and served with Dijonnaise!! They were rich, elegant, and utterly irresistible; we couldn't stop reaching for more. 3rd order anyone?! What truly made the night special was the team. From the moment we walked in, the knowledgeable staff was genuinely helpful and enthusiastic, guiding us through their wine selections with thoughtful recommendations that perfectly complemented each dish. Their passion turned a lovely dinner into a memorable experience--approachable yet refined. Highly recommend for a special night out. We left smiling, a bit fuller, and already planning to come back. Five stars!

This was truly one of the best wine bar experiences I've had in a while!…read more The staff is what made our night - owner Mike is so attentive and intelligent and kind! He took time to walk us through our tastings and sat down with us for almost an hour to chat wine and food. Everyone else working was also awesome and they make you feel so comfortable and at home. Lovely wine selection and house made pasta and flatbreads as well!! Highly recommend :)