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    Jack's Restaurant & Bar

    4.4 (508 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM

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    JACK'S RESTAURANT & BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Jack's Restaurant & Bar

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    Salmon Pasta Veggies Excellent
    David D.

    This is a very easy business to review because everything about it was 5 stars: Excellent Food Excellent Menu Excellent Atmosphere Excellent Service Reasonable prices for what is offered. If you work in the restaurant industry and want to learn how to operate a great fine dining restaurant, come and get a job here. The Salmon dish (34) was excellent--came with great veggies and pasta. I eat Salmon all over the world and at home and this was one of the best. The Eggplant Parm Appetizer (18) was a bit on the overpriced side for it's size like Appetizers tend to be but was excellent. The free water and bread was also very good. They have a free parking lot on the side or else park on the street for free. They have indoor seating and a covered patio. Great place for everyone: Date night, birthday celebration (there was one going one), Girls dinner, guys night out, business dinner, or dinner on your own on the patio. Expect to spend about $50 a person for dinner with Apps, more if you order alcohol. I would come back for the Salmon dish again.

    Stuffed pork chop mozzarella n arugula salad. With Frank Family's chard
    Liane C.

    Food was delicious. We all ordered the chop . Our service was attentive . Ofcourse having Jack greet us warmly.

    Tiramisu and cannoli!
    Lucas B.

    We try to visit every time we are in town! This year, we stopped by for dessert and were once again greeted by a kind staff and given delicious options. It's an elegant way to spend an evening before strolling around the neighborhood!

    Happy hour meal
    Madeline T.

    Came in after a day at the beach and it turned out we stumbled upon happy hour! Ordered 4 dishes and was the perfect amount for us! It was fairly quiet when we entered. Things started to pick up as dinnertime (6pm) came around. Staff was nice - would come again!

    Nikky V.

    Such a cute little Italian spot! More on the pricey side, but it felt like a nice place for a date night or special dinner. The inside is pretty small, but our waiter was so friendly, attentive, and welcoming which made the experience even better. Their patio/outdoor area was adorable too -- I'd love to go back and sit outside when the weather is nice. I ordered the Rigatoni Amatriciana and really enjoyed it. It had great flavor and the portion size was actually pretty decent too. Overall a really enjoyable dinner experience!

    Part of the happy hour menu
    Cathy L.

    Love this place! We went for a friends birthday at 5 pm. We were able to make a reservation even at Happy Hour! $8 huge pour NZ sav.blanc. Yum. Then $14 for a very large portion delicious eggplant Parmesan. They even brought my friend a dessert for her birthday. I'll be back. It's the only place I've seen green lipped mussels on the menu besides New Zealand.

    Rainbow Trout Almondine
    MaDonna W.

    We had such a wonderful flavorful dinner at Jack's sat right in front of the window on a gorgeous day. I had the rainbow trout with croquettes very fresh The service is magnificent ... This is a restaurant I can see myself coming back to again and again lots of street parking also parking on the side

    Sam C.

    We went with a friend's family for mother's Day, and there was a special mother's Day menu, so I don't know if any of these items are available on the regular menu. The restaurant decor was very nice, though or table for 6 was pretty cramped. The service was very good and the manager/owner (I don't know, but the guy seemed to act like an owner) personally came over and was very accommodating to special requests. The food overall was ok, but not great. I had the cioppino which had a generous amount of fish and clams, but the broth lacked flavor and the fish was definitely overcooked. My son had the seafood pasta and he had the same impression. My wife had the lobster ravioli and said it was bland. (But, in my opinion, lobster ravioli is just a bad idea -- lobster has a great but subtle flavor. Unless you dump a ton of sauce on it, stuffing it into pasta is going end with something bland.) My son's friend had the osso buco and he said it was very good. The shrimp scampi was also overcooked. Again, the service was very good. I would rate the food at 3 stars but I'll bump up to 4 because of the great service.

    Pepperoni & Sausage Pizza
    Greg R.

    Server was great. It was a great choice for our Easter dinner this year. Highly recommended. Even is pet friendly.

    Dawn G.

    We had a lovely time last night celebrating almost 30 years of friendship!! Carlos was very attentive & everything he recommended for us to eat & drink was delicious!! We loved our table & the ambiance was amazing too. We will definitely be back!!

    Fried Artichoke Hearts- a must order! They are delicious!

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    4 years ago

    Best restaurant in Dana Point! Love the food!! Thank you for the amazing hospitality and great food. We can't wait to come back again.

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    4 years ago

    Delicious rainbow trout almandine, excellent rack of lamb, and above average spaghetti bolognese.

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    4 years ago

    Jacks is the best. In a world of corporate chains, Jacks stands nearly alone as a quality driven private business. We love it!!!

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    4 years ago

    Having dinner tonight -great atmosphere great food! Jack came up to our table to make sure we were enjoying our dinner!

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    4 years ago

    Delicious food and such nice staff! The fettuccine with chicken and vodka cream sauce was amazing. Thank you!

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    5 years ago

    Great place & soon to disappear forever. Get in while you can!! Best happy hour around also.

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    4 years ago

    Food and service plus a great happy hour menu and pet friendly on their patio eggplant and meat balls.

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    3 years ago

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    Page 5 of 13

    Ask the Community - Jack's Restaurant & Bar

    Is there a corkage fee?

    i believe it is $20

    What time is happy hour?

    It's from 4 to 6 PM, every day! And, it is fantastic!

    Are there ocean views and patio seating?

    No ocean view but they do have a patio. Wonderful, classy restaurant right in the middle of Dana Point. Very nice!

    View All 11 Questions

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    Jimmy's Famous American Tavern

    4.0
    (2.4k reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    So great. On the way to LA and had to have lunch. Love this place. I had the salad with chicken…read moreand avocado and it was amazing. My boyfriend had the fried chicken Sandwich. Also good. But....his fries were so salty as to not be edible. Hope, our server, ws excellent and when we alerted her to the salty felons she immediately had new fresh fries made and the side wa not as large as a mail course. If you are passing by Dana Point have a meal. It's worth it. It would have been five stars but they carved a service fee and that is not my way. So four stars it is.

    I arrived a couple hours before sunset with a party of 6. I approached the front podium and asked…read moreabout wait times. The hostess, Zoey, gave me the estimated wait time (which was an expected amount for that time in the early evening.) My mother-in-law has a portable oxygen concentrator that runs on batteries, so I inquired if there was an outlet we could use in the meantime to save the battery while we waited for our table. She politely asked me to wait while she spoke to her manger. Moments later, Kat, the manager arrived and I explained the situation. An unusual request I'm sure, so Kat took a minute to figure out a way to accommodate us. She also politely asked me to wait while she researched a solution. About 5 minutes later, Kat returned and informed me that a table by an outlet would be available soon if we could wait another 10-15 minutes. I happily agreed and let me party know. Not more that 15 minutes later, Kat gathered us in and showed us to our table. Our server, Alyssa, promptly greeted us and took our drink order while we perused the menu. We started with both the fried calamari and crispy brussel sprouts appetizers which were delicious and large enough for the 6 of us. For dinner, we had the Double Smash Burgers, Fresh Catch plate, Grilled Local Fish Sandwich, and the Cali Clam Chowder. Each entree was brought out fresh and tasted amazing! Alyssa was very attentive to ensure our meals were prepared to our liking and that our beverage needs were met. Kat came by as well to check on us and to make sure we had everything we needed. The staff and management at Jimmy's Famous American Tavern in Dana Point went above and beyond to accommodate our party of 6 and provide us with the perfect balance of personal and professional care. Thank you!

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    Jimmy's Famous American Tavern
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    Lantern's Edge

    Lantern's Edge

    4.6
    (116 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    We had checked into the hotel kinda late, so decided just to eat here instead of leaving to find…read moresomething else for dinner. We got seated immediately but it was right next to the hostess stand.. which felt like the lobby of the restaurant. Honestly felt like the reject zone. Especially when the pictures in Yelp of the interior looked so nice and had a great view. We had no view. The server asked if we wanted sparkling or still water, I got sparkling and he got still. Turns out they were $8 each.. had I known that, I prob would have gotten an actual drink. The bread was complimentary and that was great, especially since our toddler loved the sun dried tomato tapenade. He also got the kids Mac and cheese, I got lobster risotto, & husband got the seafood orecchiette. Mac and cheese was just average, risotto was a little salty and a bit undercooked. Seafood orecchiette was tasty but nothing I'd crave again. Overall just an okay experience. When we got the check, noticed a 20% service charge and wasn't that happy about it since we only had 3 people, the food was just alright, and we had to sit in the weird lobby-like area of the restaurant. Would only ever come back for convenience, nothing else.

    The positives: The staff was genuinely friendly, the decor was lovely, and the food was relatively…read moregood. There's a foundation here worth building on. That said, as locals, we likely won't be returning -- and that's a shame, because it is in a nice location. The valet experience was a bit of a stumble right out of the gate -- my boyfriend was directed to navigate between two tight rows of parked cars with no guidance and wasn't given a valet ticket. He had to go back and ask for one. For a resort charging resort prices, that's not a great welcome. The restaurant was also under construction during our visit, which blocked all views of the ocean and pool -- the very thing that typically justifies resort-level pricing. No adjustment was made for this. Then came the bill. A bagel with salmon and a coffee came to $40 before anything extra. Add an automatic 20% gratuity (applied without disclosure to a party of two), $10 for parking, and what started as a simple breakfast crept up to nearly $70. We weren't given a choice about the gratuity -- at that point it's not a tip, it's a mandatory dining fee. Just call it what it is. Has everyone forgotten that gratuity is supposed to be a choice -- based on customer service and satisfaction? Apparently some have. When we brought it up on the way out, the woman at the front mentioned that auto-gratuity is now "the norm" and that tipped workers make below minimum wage. We're in California, where that's actually not legally permitted. Offering misinformation as justification for a policy that removes the customer's choice isn't a great look. We've dined at fancier hotels in the area and have never encountered a surprise mandatory gratuity. The restaurant was also nearly empty during our visit, with mostly hotel guests. If this restaurant wants to attract locals rather than just captive hotel guests, reconsidering these pricing and gratuity practices would be a genuine step in the right direction. What could have been a lovely morning out left a bad taste -- and not from the food.

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    Ocean view dining
    Ocean view dining
    Oceanview Dining
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    Craft House

    Craft House

    4.0
    (927 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$$

    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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    Inside
    Inside
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    Bloom Restaurant + Bar

    Bloom Restaurant + Bar

    4.5
    (431 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Sports on TV

    Walked in on a Wednesday night and had no problem seating a group of 6. Great menu with delicious…read moreapps and entrees. Large bar selection too, I had the soup which was a carrot, ginger homemade and it was really good. Also shares the pork belly and gnocchi which was delicious. For the entree had the meatloaf and it was very good. Love the atmosphere with the open windows on a warm summer evening, great view of the mission too. I would definitely come back.

    Went for a birthday brunch! Service was phenomenal; our…read moreserver was great! So kind, attentive, and made lovely conversations with our family. The place is clean, fresh feeling, cool brick aesthetic, and it has spacious booths. The restrooms are also clean, big, and one has a baby changing table. Drinks - there are 3 mocktails to choose from. The one that was most refreshing had boba in it. It was hard to get the boba though as the straw provided was too thin for boba. Food - I ordered the salmon Benedict. I found the side it came with kind of odd: cauliflower, carrots, zucchini, and potatoes. I would have been content with only potatoes. The veggies are a mindful addition but it's not a brunch item for me. Still... I ate them. They were cooked perfectly. The star of the plate: the salmon Benedict. Sauce, egg, and salmon all paired together made for a delicious bite each time. The bread these items sat on... I wasn't a huge fan of it. It brought the flavor down. To wrap up the meal, our server added sparkle to our experience with a kind gesture of a birthday treat. Their ice cream dessert is something I'd order and pay for because it was that good. It had caramel and some type of crumble that pulled it all together nicely. The dessert and service were good enough for me to want to go back and try something else.

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    Flights & Irons Urban Kitchen

    Flights & Irons Urban Kitchen

    4.4
    (710 reviews)
    2.7 mi
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    I stopped in before it got busy and ordered the French onion soup and shishito peppers. Both dishes…read morearrived hot and were very good. The service was attentive, the atmosphere was nice. I'd definitely come back.

    I'd give it 3.5 stars, maybe on a different night it would have rounded up. Service was pretty…read moresparse so I rounded down. Every time a server came over we had to flag someone down. We sat for probably 10 minutes before anyone greeted us, it was 3:30pm so it wasn't very busy, maybe 3-4 other tables. Every time someone came after that we had to wave someone down for water refills, never asked anyone if we wanted more drinks from the bar, nothing. Had my father in law asked for more ice tea and they never even started a new pitcher in 15 minutes. It was not busy. The place had a to of gluten free options which is a reason I wanted to try it. My server had no idea what gluten was. For a place that had half the menu marked as gluten free I was really surprised she really had no knowledge of the menu, but she was nice enough to go ask some questions when i pressed a bit that I wasn't vegan, and it was like an allergy. The food was good, portions were large enough and everything was pretty good as far as the food. Not sure why the service was so incredibly patchy and absent when we ate at 3:30 and the place was 2/3 empty. It was pretty good, I may try again but for the price point I think the service can be a little better. Nice...but slow. Definitely need more training on the menu! Mid. Not bad. Not great.

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    Flights & Irons Urban Kitchen
    Burger (with wedge fries)
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    What a Dish Cafe & Catering

    What a Dish Cafe & Catering

    4.2
    (1.2k reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    Currently eating here right now, and just had the need to write a review. This place is hands down…read moreone of my favorites now! First time coming and definitely not my last! The place is so cute and the crew is really friendly! Don't get it confused with RJ's cafe cause we almost did (they're nice there too) We got the crepes, calamari, and chipotle chicken sandwhich!

    This is a tough one. I've been coming here on and off for years and it has the potential to be…read moregreat, but they have serious problems with inconsistency in food quality, service, attitude and ambience. As an example, I have had some incredible meals here, where the food quality, food prep and presentation, were all stellar. So far so good, right? But I can go back with friends a week later and order the exact same dishes and they come out COMPLETELY different and horrible in every way. I've had inedible food served to me that should have never left the kitchen. Likewise, I can come one day and get good, friendly service and I can come the next day, stand in line for 30 minutes and get bad attitudes and total chaos. Unfortunately the latter seems more common. This is all disappointing, especially from a catering company. I would never hire them for catering because of this. You'd think they would have a recipe book and train anyone to cook and prepare dishes the proper way. Consistency is extremely important in the food service industry. You'd also think after all these years, they could solve their staffing and scheduling issues. The most common excuse I hear from the cafe staff is that they had a catering gig that day and all the staff are off doing that, leaving the cafe in chaos, where it seems like the dishwasher is doing the cooking. Finally, as MANY other customers have mentioned here, the ambience is utterly ruined by the LOUD obnoxious MUSIC playing on the outdoor speakers. This seems to be for the benefit of the staff and absolutely ruins what could be a very unique and peaceful courtyard patio setting. We can hardly have a conversation out there. Everyone I've brought here says the same thing. There's a reason restaurants offer indoor and outdoor seating. People who choose to sit outside want to talk and want a quieter atmosphere. Here's a solution: Play what you want INSIDE the cafe, in which case the open doors would allow music to waft outside a little, but PLEASE turn the outside speakers off, as they are completely unnecessary. If you insist on playing music outside, PLEASE get rid of the pounding nightclub music (which makes zero sense at 1PM) and please play something soft and jazzy AT A VERY LOW VOLUME. We are the locals. We are your regulars. Please listen to our concerns. You have the potential to be one of the best 5 star spots in this area, but for now it's 2.5 stars.

    Photos
    A few tables inside for dining. Most of the dining takes place outside.
    A few tables inside for dining. Most of the dining takes place outside.
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    Jack's Restaurant & Bar - newamerican - Updated August 2026

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