(4.5 stars) Been here 3 times now to take my wife wine tasting before heading to dinner. The self…read moreservice wine tastings are an absolute favorite of ours. Great service and friendly staff. Everyone is very knowledgeable and shares little tidbits about the wine while you enjoy. A few Suggestions / observations: 1. The self service wine area has a massive wine display that limits access to patrons who are there. A thin long belly bar would make it much more social and accessible. Constantly feel like I am bumping into people or wine bottles just to grab a taster then standing in a corner to get out of the way. 2. The massive LED tv's would be so nice if there was nature or a beach scene or something to set the ambiance. Having a massive advertisement of an appetizer stock photo and happy hour fliers illuminating half the store is not enjoyable, they could be utilized in a much nicer format. 3. Would love to see even more of the self serve wine tasting dispensers in the future! They are a hit and are such a fun concept.

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!

My husband and I had such a fun experience here! Lisa was incredibly knowledgeable about both the…read morewine and cheese but her warmth and friendliness kept us around! If you like wine and are open to trying new things - check this place out. (We didn't try the paninis they had on special but we plan on coming back!!)

BarVino is a true gem in Dana Point. This inviting local wine bar offers a thoughtfully curated,…read moreever-changing by the bottle or glass selection featuring unique wines at a range of price points, making it just as approachable as it is interesting. Their beautifully crafted cheese and charcuterie boards are the perfect complement to any pour. What truly sets Barvino apart is Lisa, the owner, whose warmth and hospitality make every visit feel like coming home. The wine club is great and members receive a 10% discount on everything. With lively events, live music on most Sundays, and seasonal holiday gift specials, BarVino is the kind of place you'll want to return to again and again. If you haven't experienced it yet, you're missing out-stop by and enjoy a glass...or two!

I love this cute little wine bar even though I don't eat cheese. They have a lot of delicious…read morechampagne cocktails and nuts and so many charcuterie board choices. It's adorable and petite inside and the menu is pretty extensive. Everyone is very friendly and sweet and accommodating! I really enjoyed hanging out here today!

Quaint place with delicious food and great wine selection. Ana makes wonderful cocktails and her…read morerecommendations are spot on based on what we told her we like. Loved baked goat cheese and steak tartar!

This place can get very crowded, but that's honestly part of what makes it so much fun. The energy…read moreis always great, and there's always something going on. I've attended their trivia nights, and they were a blast--well organized, engaging, and a perfect activity for a group of friends. The drinks are fantastic. The Sauvignon Blanc sangria and the frozen rosé are both amazing and have become some of my favorites. The food is consistently good, and the lively atmosphere keeps me coming back. On my most recent visit, I had the opportunity to beta test one of their murder mystery events, and it was such a unique and entertaining experience. It added a whole new level of fun to the evening and made for a memorable night out. If they offer the murder mystery event again, I highly recommend checking it out. It's a great way to enjoy good food, drinks, and an interactive experience all in one place.

I enjoyed visiting Five Vines Wine Bar in downtown San Juan Capistrano. It's conveniently located…read morenear the Amtrak railroad tracks, which adds to the charm and character of the area. There is public parking nearby, making it easy to find parking @ $2/hour. The wine bar is cozy, cute, and welcoming, with a great selection of wines and delicious food options. I especially enjoy their happy hour and the outdoor balcony seating, where you can relax with a glass of wine and watch people stroll through historic downtown. The waitress is fast and friendly....just all around well worth the drive to this area.

Recently went for the first time and already excited to return soon!…read more We went for a cheeky Tuesday wine flight which was a good option. You get to select your own wine from their list to try at your own pace. Each time we went back for our next selection, the lovely ladies at the bar were always friendly and delightful. We wished to order the charcuterie box, but they were out, so we went with the Mediterranean board and beef empanadas served with chimichurri sauce - I'd order both again. Their happy hour is very generous, with a BOGO on drinks. Being right on the Harbor wharf, there was a slight breeze which was a welcome relief after the heatwaves the last couple of weeks. The courtyard is covered, so out of the sun, and super spacious. Only negative was the music situation. It was super spotty and dropped out a lot, quite annoying.

It was such a fun experience. Came the night before to scope the place out and spoke to Lauren and…read morefound out there was a live band the next day. We arrived about 15 minutes before they were fully open so we sat on the patio looking at the wine options and talked until they opened. They had two white wines which I didn't try and the rest were reds. I didn't get to try all the reds because you get 6 to a tasting but all the ones I did taste were great! Ended up getting a bottle of the Cab Sauv and the Dark Elements to enjoy with the live music. The staff was excellent the entire time even when they got busy. Shout out to Lauren, Christian, Rachel and Shay for the excellent service! Specially Lauren who took care of us from open to close even with a little humorous mix up when she thought I was the live music. Lol great time highly recommend trying them. Great wines right on the water and amazing staff!

Such a yummy pizza place! Went with a group of girl friends and we got some cute pictures (thank…read moreyou to our hostess) and delicious food out of this place. We ordered a ton--garlic knots, wedge salad, two round pizzas (champion and umami mushroom) and a square pizza (smoky vodka). I enjoyed it all. The garlic knots were fine, but nothing special, would skip if you were already iffy on ordering. The wedge salad was also highly rated, but it was okay in my opinion too. Good to try once, but not a must have for me, a little too dressed up for my liking. I did try the spagnola salad at the Laguna Beach location and enjoyed it more, maybe because it tastes lighter. The pizzas though, were spectacular! Truly Pizza definitely deserves the high rating. The crust and pizza dough are cooked to perfection. My recommendation is to carefully read and choose toppings you know you'd enjoy for sure. While I enjoyed the round pizzas, I did not like the umami mushroom as much (maybe because I don't love and didn't realize there would be sesame seeds on pizza). The champion was a classic and the smoky vodka was delicious! The square pizza was fluffy, but not too doughy where it felt like I was just straight up eating bread. The side of ranch is here is also a must if you usually like dipping your pizza. Overall--great ambiance, excellent service, and excellent food. Would come back!

Really good pizzas and I can kinda understand the hype. We came here after snagging a last minute…read morereservation on open table a few days before. They open their reservations 30 days ahead and I definitely recommend getting a reservation since they usually book up, including weekdays! We came here on a Wednesday and it was packed. Not sure if everyone knows but there was a hidden parking lot behind the restaurant. It seemed like everyone did street parking. We ordered their famous champion tomato and cheese and the la foresta. Both pizzas were excellent. The champion cheese was really awesome. You can really taste the fresh tomatos and cheese. The crust was super crackly. They definitely nailed the crispiness. The la foresta had a nice dollop of ricotta on each slice that helped with the balance of the richness. Get the soft serve at the end of the meal! The issue was that the pizzas were super crispy and chewy that your jaw starts hurting to the point that you get kind of sore. However, I think it's totally a preference thing. There was also a wait of 25 min for your pizza since it was really busy. Aside from that, the service was excellent. Our server took really good care of us. Also, even though this was outdoor seating only, this spot was beautiful. They have lemon vines around and lots of great lighting inside. We'll definitely want to be back but probably when the hype of this place dies down a bit.

Excellent as usual. Get the ribs or chicken. Nice atmosphere. The butter cake and ice cream sundae…read moreexcellent

The fish trout dip is the most delicious I have ever tasted and keeps me coming back again and…read moreagain! I initially discovered this delightful establishment in 2018. Since that time, my family and I have been frequenting the place and cannot say more enough good things. While the fish trout dip is my personal favorite, everything we have eaten here has been delightful. Do not hesitate! The food, staff, and ambience are heavenly!

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!

Really cute cafe in Dana Point. We picked up chocolate croissants for our little visit here in Dana…read morePoint. The croissant was fine. Nothing special, but the cafe is very cute.

My impression is right in line with the average of the 4 star rating. This is a really fun place…read moreto come to. I was a tiny bit disappointed with the beer selections. A place like this should offer multiple options for each style of popular beers. My burger was excellent. It's been a while since I was last here but I always enjoy the atmosphere. Looking forward to coming back again when I'm in the area.

I made reservations here last night for 20, having never been there before but needing a semi…read moreprivate area for a group to gather. The venue was perfect for our size. They could have had more servers there for sure. That said, the guy serving us worked his butt off, gracefully, friendly, and attentively. Any gaps were filled by the bartender delivering drinks and (I think) the manager here and there. We were well taken care of. Food was great, bacon old fashioned my buddy had looked (and reportedly) was incredible, beers were great, staff were awesome (despite being low in numbers). Highly recommend.!

Great waiter, John. Service was personalized. Food was great. Why did 60 people with reservations…read morenot show up or have the decency to cancel on one of the most profitable nights of the year?

The restaurant is definitely beautiful and very upscale. The lobby and overall atmosphere are…read morestunning and make a great first impression. Unfortunately, for me, the food didn't quite live up to the presentation and expectations that came with such a fancy setting. Everything looked great, but the overall dining experience felt a bit underwhelming compared to the price point. Service was fine and the restaurant is clearly well maintained, but I left feeling more impressed by how pretty the place looked than by the meal itself. Not a bad experience by any means, just not somewhere I'd rush back to. Worth visiting if you're looking for a nice ambiance and a beautiful setting