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    Gemmell's Restaurant

    3.7 (433 reviews)

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    GEMMELL'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Quiet
    Happy hour specials
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Gemmell's Restaurant

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    Filet mignon

    Still the best food in Orange County and the martini pours are to the rim! Every meal is deliciously prepared with incredible sauces and care. Chef Byron never disappoints. This last week I dined there three times having the filet mignon, Chilean sea bass and angel hair pasta with shrimp. Exceptional service too.

    Wifey about to get her Chicken Elizabeth
    Marc L.

    Not our usual neighborhood- but when a trip to the outlets turns out to be a bust, we make up for it with an early-in-the-week date night. We got to see Dana Harbor with the Christmas decorations and lights and boy what a treat. We chose Gemmell's because of the decor and French-based menu. The restaurant was rather empty for being prime dinner time. It took a couple of minutes to get seated and overall I would say service was leisurely. We didn't care we were enjoying the evening. The steak was good, but meaculpa ordered medium. I believe in no steak beyond medium rare, but for some reason, I messed up today. The sauce was really tasty and the softened peppercorns gave a good bite. Wine, creme brule, smoked salmon, and espresso are all good, but the runaway star was the Chicken Elizabeth that Wifey ordered. The chicken was super tender and what made French cuisine was the sauces. Enjoyed ourselves and gave into the moment.

    Halibut Special, so good!
    Roman B.

    Had dinner here on 7/31/24 for the first time. We have been coming to Dana Point for years and never made it to this fabulous restaurant. Julian was our server and he is awesome. Very attentive and took care of us all night. Chef Byron came out to the table and greeted us, which was very nice of him. Dinner - Shrimp Scampi appetizer- cooked to perfection. So delish. I asked for more bread, just so I could dip in the sauce :-) Special of the night was Sauteed Halibut. Cooked to perfection. Served with rice and veggies. I believe the delicious sauce was Espagnole sauce. Chicken Piccata - on point, so good! Caesar Salad Thanks again to Julian and to Chef Byron Gemmell, we will be returning each and every time we are in Dana Point!

    The vibe was amazing

    We came in after watching the boat parade. A HIDDEN GEM! I think people walked by thinking it was closed, but it was warm, quiet and festive. My husband and I ordered a bottle of wine and soup, and let me tell you, the soup hit the spot. I ordered a potato leek soup that was on the specials and it was SO delicious. It's my first time here and our server Kevin was great. Brought us extra warm sourdough bread. Highly recommend! Okay so we also got the chocolate soufflé and it was sooo yummy. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

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    7 years ago

    The poached salmon here is out of this world! Went there for a luncheon today with about thirty people.

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    7 years ago

    Love this place! Hidden gem! Great service, so happy to come here on a romantic dinner date!

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    7 years ago

    Barbara is a dream. The food is fabulous. My favorite is the salmon. It is so romantic. I love eating at Gemmell's.

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    Page 6 of 11

    Ask the Community - Gemmell's Restaurant

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    best pizza I've ever had, very kind service and the pizza has excede my expectations, also best…read morewings and fries I had, way better than apizza dojo

    I had been wanting to try Truly Pizza for the longest time. Every time I looked, reservations were…read morebooked out and the wait times were incredibly long. After finally snagging a reservation, I can confidently say it was worth the wait. From the moment we walked in, I was impressed by the atmosphere. The space is warm, inviting, and beautifully designed. We were celebrating a graduation, and it felt like the perfect place for a special occasion. We started with the garlic pull apart bread, which was absolutely delicious. The garlic flavor was bold without being overwhelming, and I loved the chunks of grilled garlic on top. We also ordered the smoky vodka marinara sauce on the side. It was good, but a little more acidic than I personally prefer. The standout dish of the night was the Champion pizza. The crust was honestly one of the best pizza crusts I have had in a very long time. I am usually the person who leaves the crust behind, but this time I found myself dipping every bite into the hot honey we ordered on the side. The combination was incredible and packed with flavor. We also tried the square smoky vodka pizza with pepperoni and a sesame seed crust. The sesame added a subtle nuttiness that worked surprisingly well and made the pizza even more memorable. Every bite was delicious. To top it all off, the staff surprised us with vanilla soft serve topped with olive oil and sea salt to celebrate graduation. It was my first time trying that combination, and somehow it worked perfectly. Sweet, salty, creamy, and just unique enough to leave a lasting impression. Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with both the food and the experience. Between the atmosphere, the service, and some of the best pizza I have had in Orange County, I can definitely see why this place is so popular. I would happily bring my family back and look forward to returning myself.

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    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.!

    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!

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    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.

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    Bring on the bubbles! tasting to

    Gemmell's Restaurant - french - Updated June 2026

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