Mar'sel is one of those restaurants that creates memorable evenings out! It starts with a magical setting--it sits perched on a hill that affords spectacular ocean views, and many of the tables look out at that view. And the vibe of the restaurant sets the tone that you're in for something special. The food is clearly the main event. The menu draws influence from a variety of culinary traditions, but it's ultimately the creative vision of their culinary team. I am most attracted to unexpected directions a skilled chef chooses to take their food, and I was spoiled for choice with things I was dying to try! The execution was highly skilled and the plating nothing short of artful--so gorgeous. The cocktail options also felt like choosing your favorite child, and the port menu after dinner was so fun. The service was also flawless. Our primary server, Jesus, was passionate and excellent--he seemed to know every detail of every dish and loved sharing that with interested guests. Everything was prompt, the right temperature, etc. Also, my partner is Celiac, so we need strict gluten free with no cross-contamination. This was no problem at all for this restaurant--Jesus skillfully guided us through the menu and it seems like the issue was communicated to the other staff, so everyone was on the lookout for my partner's safety. We really appreciate that, which makes the dining experience so much more enjoyable. We had a really incredible evening here and deeply appreciate all the work and considerations that went into it. read more

mar'sel - New American Near Me - Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Great ambience and view. Menu has changed as well as bread choices. Gone are unique style muffins. Pricey and maybe no longer worth the cost despite gorgeous setting. read more

Beautiful ocean views, indoor and outdoor seating and great service, what more could you ask for? Food was also good. We ordered the burrata with tomato, diver scallops and artichoke flowers for appetizers. They were all tasty, my favorite being the Artichoke flowers. For dinner we had the Ragu pasta, pasta carbonara, and the fennel sausage pasta. Pasta made fresh and delicious sauce to accompany it. For dessert, we got the Warm banana jackfruit bread pudding with coconut gelato. Food was great, a little pricey in my opinion, but what do you expect? You're eating at a fine dining restaurant in Teranea? read more

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We visited for Easter brunch and I honestly can't remember being this disappointed with food quality. The salmon carpaccio was made with smoked salmon that tasted like it came from Ralphs. The wagyu steak was chewy, oddly gamey, and flat in flavor. We also tried a few items from a friend's plate, and those were disappointing as well. For $150 per person, it was a complete flop. Even the cheese assortment and jamón were mediocre. The view is beautiful, but the kitchen was extremely disappointing. Service was ok, took a while to get a drink and never was offered a refill but forgivable on a busy day. Unfortunately food was so bad, I couldn't give this place anything other than 1 star. Even if the price was $50pp - it would still be not worth it. read more

Beautiful outdoor ambiance with exceptional food and first-class service. It was a wonderful venue for a birthday dinner, timed such that sunset and the beautiful view onto Catalina island could be enjoyed. Delicious bread and butter, oysters, grilled octopus, burrata, diver scallops, sea bream, lamb loin, Chilean sea bass, and the pappardelle were all on point, tender, flavorful, and beautifully arranged. And the desserts were a nice finishing bouquet: raspberry and lemon, blueberry cheese cake, Old fashioned ... PS: the drive there from East (110 freeway) is dangerous due to ground shifting and bumps: go slow! read more

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Love this restaurant, it is on the pricey side but it does not disappoint. The service is outstanding and friendly. The view sitting outside looking out towards the ocean is unreal and watching the sun set is a beautiful sight. Food is delicious everything from the appetizers to dessert are over the top as far as taste and presentation. The wagyu stuffed ravioli special - so good and not heavy, Ibérico Pork Coppa was amazing and was more like a short rib to me than a pork chop but nonetheless so good. Grilled octopus appetizer was so tender and good but it did have a little kick of spice to it but that didn't change anything. Desserts - Chocolate Dulcey Pot De Crème was so good and wasn't overly sweet or rich, the cookies and sea salt help it out with balance and the pavlova is a bright and refreshing dessert good for a nice end to the meal and to enjoy after a hot day. read more

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My wife surprised me with a 2 night stay at Terranea for our 45th wedding anniversary! We have stayed at Terranea many times before and we are used to the outstanding resort and service oriented staff, but this was extra special! From check-in, Cielo pool, Mar'sel, bashi, fitness center, everything was 5-Star! We were also fortunate enough to attend the AstroYachts concert at Nelson's on Saturday night. No one had more fun than we did! Every visit to Terranea is a wonderful experience! Can't wait to visit again! read more

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We had dinner while staying at the Terranea last week. The best I can say about this restaurant is the view. We made reservations through the resort because making one via Open Table would have required a credit card and we were planning to apply our dinner charges to our room. The views are spectacular if seated outside before sunset. We had reservations at their 5 pm opening. Compared to a year ago, we were a little disappointed with the food. There were some steak options for over $200, but not many seafood options that I can recall. Portions were small for the price point. I inquired about having the scallop appetizer made into an entree. Our server said it would double the price and I'd only get 4 scallops instead of 2. The lobster bisque was delicious as it had a small tail in it. Their bread was not worth $16. My husband had the beef filet for $85. I opted for 2 appetizers as I couldn't find anything else to order. Nice restaurant for special occasions if you're looking for an ocean view. read more

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I had a beautiful meal with exceptional service! The ambience is calm and relatively quiet compared to most restaurants. The view is spectacular. This is formal dining at its best - purse hook offered, dark napkin to avoid lint, amuse bouche, cutlery replaced with each course, incredibly knowledgeable server, an extra surprise from the chef. I thoroughly enjoyed beef carpaccio, truffle pasta and sea bream. Absolutely a "full bar" with a lovely variety of old world wines available by the glass, as well as digestifs. read more

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We would like to thank Bridget and Chad and the rest of the crew for such a wonderful experience. Thank you so much for making our night. We had an exceptional evening. read more

Outstanding food and service. The whole resort is spectacular. Beautiful weather and views

The best restaurant at Terrenea, hands down. The outdoor view is incredible. The staff was all extremely nice. While waiting for a table, the bartender went out of his way to come over and make sure we got drinks. All the food was incredible. The staff were moving quick to make sure no one was ever waiting. The friendliest people on the property. read more

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A friend held a milestone birthday celebration, and everything was top notch (in quality as well as price). The menu options available all looked good (and everyone seemed to enjoy them). The setting and facilities were very nice. And the views, of course, were excellent. On top of that, we had high-level service from the staff -- speed, accommodation, responsiveness. Indeed, the only critique I could come up with was that the guy with the pepper grinder would ask instantly whether you wanted some, before you could even taste your food. Pricey, but, for something special, worth it. read more

We stayed at the resort for our anniversary. So we have dinner here one night. We had caviar. I had the sea bass. The food was good but kind of small portions for the price. The view however was priceless. The service was top notch. read more

horrible service, I've never been more disappointed in a fine dining restaurant by the staff. every single person was rude to me and my partner, treated us like we were second class citizens. highly recommend going somewhere else. read more

Ambiance gorgeous, service excellent but sadly food terrible! we have come here frequently over the years and always had a lovely experience but last night our food was mediocre at best! We had the filet of sole dinner special which was dried out, overcooked and tasteless. (By the time it was filleted tableside it was cold.) For $110, it should have been delicious! My scallop appetizer was very good as was the cheesecake dessert. But i just can't get past the entree! Sadly at those prices, we will not be returning. read more

Beautiful high end place at Terranea Resort! What a fabulous throw back place to dine sitting on the bluffs at Palos Verdes . From the hostess to our server , our location outside then the bread basket , great lemon drops , lobster. Bisque to die for , Caesar salad , oysters , linguine , lamb and desserts from heaven above . Def coming back ! read more

Stunning views and pretty good food. Service was excellent. My big issue is our cocktail glass was cracked. I told the server and they apologized and replaced the drink right away. But the server explained they strained the drink into the new cup. I understand they did this to make sure no glass was in it but why not just pour a new drink! At this point the drink was watered down. Also, the cracked cup certainly could have had glass pieces in the cup and they really should have at least comped that drink. Really disappointing. Other than this, it was a nice meal. We came for our anniversary and they gave us a nice dessert to celebrate. Prices are steep! read more

Food: 5/5 We got the lamb and the pappardelle pasta with duck ragu. The lamb was very tender and juicy and the pasta was very tasty. I think their menu rotates every once in a while. Ambience: 5/5 The ocean view is amazing. Definitely adds to the restaurants allure. Parking: 3/5 I'm not sure if there's any parking outside of valet... Service: 5/5 Servers are super nice and friendly and the food came out pretty quickly. Price: 3/5 Price is a little expensive and I think you could get similar food for cheaper elsewhere but you're really coming here for the experience. The portions are also a little on the smaller side. read more

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I've been to this restaurant multiple times in the past. It was usually a nice and romantic date spot to enjoy on occasion. My husband and I would occasionally come to enjoy a night out. Tonight we tried to have a romantic date but the evening fell short. We were seated at the back of the patio. Our waiter Felix was not attentive at all. He was pretty bad and we both felt like he didn't want to serve us? It was so bizarre. But it was not good service for such a "nice" restaurant. The food was also not that good. I ordered the lobster pasta special with caviar on top and it was like a puree of lobster which was pretty gross to eat. The food has really gone downhill and this is from a local who has been dining here for 6 years. I was so disappointed and let down! I will never return. Gross good and bad service. read more

The ocean views at mar'sel are absolutely breathtaking, creating an immaculate setting for a special evening out. This is probably why you book a reservation here. Unfortunately, the experience wasn't great with the service. Our initial welcome from the hostess was weak and lack of attentiveness. In addition to this our table service was also disappointingly slow. When our food finally arrived, it was simply okay. My lobster risotto good, decently cooked but I wouldn't write home about it .They do have a great selection of alchohol available, and the cocktails are decent. While the ambience and views are undeniably spectacular, the lackluster service and average food made for a very meh experience. read more

Came to Mar'sel for my birthday dinner and had an exceptional experience. The dedication to classiness and attention to detail is unmatched. Steven, my server, and his assistant Martin gave me and my fiancée 5 star treatment that could never compare to a fancy steakhouse like Mastro's, Sterlings, Ruth Chris, and Flemings. They were very professional yet down to earth at the same time! From the moment we walked in the door we felt as if we were transported into a European vacation. The hostess kindly greeted us and brought us to our table. She pulled out both of our chairs, set the napkin on our laps, and placed the menus in our hands which made us feel welcomed and taken care of from the start! Even as we passed by other servers and assistants, they all smiled and greeted us. We also had amazing sunset pictures taken by both Steven and Martin! They both treated us with so much attention, kindness, and sophistication which is truly appreciated when celebrating a special occasion. Thank you to Istvan Kiss, the manager, for personally greeting us at our table and being so kind. The service that the Mar'sel team provided made my birthday such a special night and I don't think I could never look at any other restaurant the same after dining here... and that's the catch. (It's a pretty good catch though) read more

mar'sel - New American Near Me - Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Real review is 3.5/5 but rounded up. Pros: -seafood. It's so fresh and good. Can't go wrong with it and highly recommend. The veggies too are amazing -view, we went at night but even then you can tell the view is to die for. Cons: -there was a mixup and a dish we didn't order was served to our table. Mind you this is a fine dining establishment and they came back later to apologize and then took it back. Kinda wild what if we already touched it?!?! They did NOT confirm if we touched it already. -We indoor because it was chilly out at night. But the table we got seated was right at the door and every time the door opened we ate a giant gust of ice cold wind. In hindsight we could've just asked to be seated elsewhere but that table should probably just be moved. read more

This is a very delayed update but one worth noting since the management was exceptional in responding to my review and extending another invitation to their restaurant. Mr. Kiss was incredibly accommodating and attended to every single request along with his staff. I will gladly return with my family since this place is special. read more

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My fiancé and I came here for our engagement dinner and it was an amazing experience to say the least. Our server Felix went above and beyond to make sure that we had a night to remember. He started off by seating us outside next to a glass fire heater with the most amazing view of the moonlight over the water and Cliff side lights. He then recommended we start off with some Barada cheese, Spanish artichokes and the most amazing bread service you can ever imagine. For dinner, she had the lobster risotto which is just superior to anything we've had before and I chose the coastal lamb that was simply just the tastiest I've ever had. By that time we were filled to the point where we couldn't think of dessert, but he still insisted on bringing us out some cheesecake that I still think about in my dreams. I can't stress enough that Felix had made that night amazing and treated us like family from the very beginning. It doesn't get any better when it comes to the customer service. He is simply the best!!!! 100/10 Experience!!!! If you're looking for the best service for your special night be sure to ask for Felix!!!!!! read more

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Food was amazing. We sat outside with an amazing view of the ocean, and the weather was perfect. Our server Ben was so pleasant, attentive, and knowledgeable. He helped us make some good food choices. The scallops were my favorite thing on the menu. I also really love the cookies that came with the dessert at the end. I can't stop thinking about them. They were like chocolate chip sea salt, shortbread cookies. I would eat a whole sleeve of those if I could buy them. Can't wait to go back again. read more

mar'sel - Those three little cookies were gold. I still can't stop thinking about them. - New American Near Me - Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Had Mother's Day brunch with wife. High price. I enjoyed the steak. My wife had a lobster dumpling she didn't feel had much lobster. Desert was great. My main issue is the Terrenea parking which is a togal ripoff. There sign is very clear - Daily Visitor Parking: $30 ($10 with validation Monday-Thursday and $15 with validation Friday-Sunday and holidays). They charge 30$ refused to honor the restaurant validation saying it was Sunday and a holiday - $15 WITH VALIDATION FRIDAY-SUNDAY AND HOLIDAYS!!! MOTHER'S DAY SPECIAL - WE DOUBLE THE PRICE. read more

First, I'd like to start off by saying the host, waiters & staff were great! Especially Jesus, he was very kind and knowledgeable and really helped you choose the perfect dish to enjoy. Second, the food was delicious! I started off with some buttery mouth watering Caviar (1st time trying Caviar ) followed by a medium to well done filet mignon steak that was perfect! Lastly, the Ambiance was just so elegant and relaxed. A lot of people laughing and having a good time. So if anybody out in the world wants to enjoy a peaceful and relaxing night that includes excellent food, I definitely would recommend Mar'sel!!! ,5 stars read more

mar'sel - Carrot, turnip with pea and avocado purée and pieces of pomegranate. - New American Near Me - Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Mar'sel is Terranea's upscale restaurant sitting atop a hill overlooking the resort and ocean. Compared to other restaurants in its class, Mar'sel offers average food, good service, and a stunning ambiance carried by a breathtaking view of Palos Verdes and the Pacific. Our family ordered the Iberico Pork, Branzino, Pizzocheri, and the children's fish, a sea bass w pasta. My Iberico Pork ($48) was a thick, rich Porkchop with a tangy tamarind soy sauce atop white beans and broccolini. The Branzino ($50) was small and thin but delicious. The Pizzocheri buckwheat pasta ($38) was beautiful but tasted unremarkable, bland, and was very small. The kids' sea bass and pasta ($30) was a surprising hit, with a juicy, only-slightly-smaller than adult sized portion, and came with ice cream and homemade cookies. For dessert we shared the chocolate dulcey pot de crème, their signature dessert, which was rich and delicious but not exceptional. The service was excellent, and our waiter Benjamin was attentive, accommodated our birthday request, and even went so far as to comp our dessert and the excellent bread-and-spread appetizer when it was initially forgotten. The hostess was similarly generous, and seated us even after a slightly late arrival. Undoubtedly, the finest part of the restaurant is the ambiance, lifted up by beautiful views of the Pacific and Catalina Island in the distance. The interior is cozy and classy. The prices are high, but not extortionate, and appropriate for a restaurant of this class. Mar'sel is upscale, even by Terranea standards, but is not fine dining, and its prices reflect the resort it is in and the spectacular view you enjoy while there. Is Mar'sel the best restaurant at Terranea? Certainly. Ranchos Palos Verdes? Maybe. LA? Definitely not. But the view may be. Have realistic expectations for the food and price, and come for the amazing views and service - you won't be disappointed. Food: 4/5 Service: 4.5/5 Ambiance/Facility: 5/5 Value: 3.5/5 read more

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This place is a castle by the sea. The food is worthy of praise--- not too much--- but just enough to call this place a consistent melody that vibes to the tune of delicious and elevated flavors. Like I have eaten here multiple times but I do not ever recall ever having a miss. This place is like a close reliable friend. You do not seek them, you do not remember them every day but it is comforting to know that this place is always just a phone call away to embrace you in the quality you have come to trust. The best part is that this place is right by the sea. And I have known peace here. There was this time in my life where things got tough. And I went here to have drinks and food, and I saw the vast, crystal blue I felt peace. I felt a shift in myself. Bear with me here, I felt like a smaller version of me separated from me, and it is the smaller part that experienced peace and it was the smaller part of me that was the person I was living. Wow---- that is credit to everything that this restaurant has an offers. I guess, I also have to thank the sea, breeze and sky for colluding on a plan to gift me peace, if I was ready to feel it. And I guess this place helps in allowing me to see the best of the nature around me. But seeing peace from this vantage point is not cheap. I remember one time being for brunch there. And seeing a girl get multiple phone calls because she had gotten engaged. Her whole family was there, and she walked away regularly. She could step into grass though to take the calls. This place afforded her a rare opportunity--- receive and respond to calls, in a casual way, while still being a place that served for celebration. I imagine people doing that in their own homes, not in a restaurant. I was not bothered by her, I saw her go, and be away enough for me to appreciate her moment. I was happy for her because it seemed she had found love. I just realize this place is flexible for many opportunities. Another time I went, I saw around a fire place that gave me Mykono vibes. I drank this golden drink. that was sweet, honey like, and did not taste like alcohol. Those I can drown in. I have had uni pasta here, lamb chops, grand desserts, and all this other good stuff that I just know is solid and grand--- but still not a bite of dreams. Their service is impeccable as well. It is attentive, responsive, and actionable. So go here and know that this place has much to offer. Be brave enough to explore the place to find what you need, the place will likely respond with comfort and space. read more

Amazing food and beautiful atmosphere! Everything we ordered was delicious. A special thank you to Franklin and Ben for their outstanding service. They were friendly, attentive, and made our dining experience truly memorable. We will definitely be back! read more

Highly recommend getting an outdoor seating so you can stare at the beautiful view. If you're lucky to get in during sunset, you're in for a treat. Food is a 6/10 with some dishes standing out more than others. Service however is wonderful. We even brought our toddler with us and everything went smoothly! If you're staying at Terranea especially, I'd definitely recommend booking an evening to dine here. read more

This is the best place I've ever eaten. Food was the best and the service was the best. 10/10. NIce oceanfront view too

Every experience has been wonderful here. The food, service and ambiance is worth the trip. The waiters are attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable with the food and wine menu. The outdoor seating over looking the coast with heaters turned on next to you definitely sets the mood. They have several indoor seating areas that look cute and inviting as-well. Make reservations read more

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Blaze and Jonathan were a true pleasure get drinks from! Both were incredibly knowledgable about their wine and drinks. I noticed Blaze was making a garnish for a drink and curiously asked her about it what it was and she let me try it. She didn't have to, I was just asking about it but that little service moment went a long way. Jonathan was great in his recommendations for wines and so much so that I ended up order a case to be delivered to my house of his recommendation. It's rare you find really helpful, nice people at a lobby bar but they were great, A+ read more

I usually always am on yelp to leave terrible reviews or glowing reviews... going to have to split the middle here as the dinner started and ended well. The service/waiter/host were all fanastic. Chef sent out an excellent amuse bouche (gazpacho) so it started promising. Honestly it would have been a 1-star review after that but at the end of the night they sent out a very nice dessert no charge for our anniversary (25 years) so it's hard to completely pan them. For what we paid... $400 with wine. The scallops were $42 for two small scallops the size of a dime. I wouldn't complain if they were mind-blowing but they were not that. I thought my wife's lamb was "meh" at best and very clumsily plated. My biggest complaint was with "lobster risotto" which was actually "lobster with a side of risotto" where the presentation looked like a joke? But then the risotto was absolutely bad, tasted like rice soaked in wam water (undercooked) with no broth or vegetables or cheese, couldn't eat it. Anyway, the views were great! read more

mar'sel - New American Near Me - Rancho Palos Verdes, California

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The vibes are great. You pay for amazing views, Michelin star chef food, rabbits, dolphins, great food, and of course great service from Chris. He's been there 12 years and made our first experience and anniversary unforgettable! We got a ton of apps like the scallops, octopus, carrots, and hanachi. We got the lobster risotto and the halibut and both were perfect. And of course to finish it off we got a ton of dese read more

We knew about Mar'sel as we've visited Terranea occasionally for the other restaurants, however never had the opportunity to dine here. Being our 26th anniversary, the Mrs suggested we try and we were not disappointed at all. For those who haven't had the opportunity to dine at this location, the restaurant is nestled a few yards south of the main lobby so if you choose to valet park your vehicle, it's a short walk from the front of the property, through the parking lot and adjacent to the main pool. There is a shuttle service available however we chose to walk to the restaurant instead. The vibe is stately yet homey. Classy yet informal. Dining attire range from "cruise loungewear to tropical casual". We both wore crisp linen. As we entered the establishment, we were greeted by the hostess who checked our reservations and directed us to our outside table on the veranda with a spectacular view of the Pacific. Tonight, it was a bit overcast as the evening onshore flow had made its appearance early. From the ambience, scenery, service and food all worth the hype. The atmosphere is relaxing and soothing. Tonight, our server is Ben who is well versed in tonight's specials as well as the usual cuisine preparations. The evening commenced with a delicious Hamachi crudo which was prepared with a calamansi (a Filipino citrus fruit) aguachile and being of Filipino decent, we were happy to know that the Chef du Cuisine was part Filipino as well; (4/5). We also ordered the "house made breads and spreads" which were a variety of breads from home made English muffins and salty ciabata and toppings to spread on these nibblets which were a garlic humus, a spicy chipotle, butter and olive oil. Our dinner entree came next along with our sides. The wife had the Lobster risotto and I chose the Iberico pork with corn succotash; both scrumptious. Portions were on the smaller side, however the flavor profile was top tier. We also shared the wild mushrooms with avocados and the broccolini with a horseradish aioli which accentuated the proteins we chose. (5/5) Dinner concluded with a delicious and unexpected complimentary blueberry cheesecake dessert due to our anniversary celebration (5/5). This was an unforgettable experience and we made the commitment to celebrate our next anniversary dinners here at Mar'sel moving forward. See you next year! read more

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Absolutely amazing meal from start to finish. I haven't had a steak this good in a long time--perfectly cooked, incredibly flavorful. The lobster risotto was another standout; the lobster was so tender it practically disappeared the second it hit my tongue. Even the bread was memorable--freshly baked in-house. On top of all that, the service was spot-on: our server Chris was very attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience even better. On top of that, the view was incredible. It was a perfect birthday dinner all-around. read more

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Love coming here. Great drinks, streamlined service, elegant, and very good food!! Did I mention the views are also amazing! Forgot to take a picture of the bone in ribeye and the sea bass :) sorry. read more

mar'sel - New American Near Me - Rancho Palos Verdes, California

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