Last week, I made a reservation for lunch at RAYA. When I arrived, I realized that only the brunch menu was available, while I was hoping to order from the à la carte menu. Their staff kindly allowed me to cancel my reservation without any penalty and even recommended two other restaurants on the same floor where I could order à la carte dishes. They handled the situation with great understanding and made me feel completely comfortable. I truly appreciated the excellent service and positive experience. When I'm in the mood to enjoy a larger meal and explore more of your menu, I will definitely come back and give your restaurant another try. Thank you for the hospitality! Sara read more

The plating was wonderful and the ambiance is great. But here we the thing. Its priced for it. The flavor isnt that great even if the ingredient list is fascinating and the service isnt that fast. If you want to have a nice relaxing breakfast in the hotel definately a good choice but its not going to blow your mind or be a value. read more

Raya - American breakdown - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

Food - Meh Service-ok Ambiance-loud I need 85 characters so meh meh meh and very overpriced read more

I recommend this place for a romantic lunch or dinner. The stunning ocean views are simply amazing. The food has gotten even better than before. read more

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Excellent food with excellent service, along with an amazing view. Everything was delicious. We tried the octopus, tuna tartare and scallops. The star of the show was the churros at the end. They were amazing read more

Raya - Scallops - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

Great spot inside the Ritz-Carlton with an incredible beach view. Definitely try to go right before sunset -- the views are incredible. Food-wise, the tuna tartare and octopus are excellent starters. The tuna has a nice smoky kick that sets it apart from others I've had. For mains, I went with the olive oil halibut -- it was just okay. A bit bland on its own and really needed the sauce. The scallops were the better move. Dessert was the highlight -- the churros were unreal. Super fresh, perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Overall, a great choice for a special occasion -- solid food and an amazing setting. read more

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This place has the most stunning view of the ocean. For the location itself I would give it 5 stars. We ordered the tomahawk for the table, which was really good. However, we waited over an hour for this to come out, and were a bit disappointed because of this. The Cesar salad was delicious, and they even had this grilled avocado, which perfectly paired with the steak. I recommend coming here during golden hour. The views are breathtaking, and when you're done with dinner, they have their own lounge outdoors as well, with stunning coastal views. read more

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Raya is a bit of a surprise win. I am not typically the biggest fan of lobby restaurants, even at the nicest hotel. The food tends to be predictable and forgettable at best. However, my wife and I decided to try Raya when we had a great experience at the accompanying (and shared kitchen) lobby bar. The restaurant itself is a nice venue but clearly is a converted space. Artwork separates the restaurant from the general lobby and the focal point of the restaurant are the huge windows facing the ocean. As such, off ambiance alone, I would not recommend Raya for a fancy date night, but for almost anything else, it is nice and well enough appointed. The service is what you would expect if the Ritz Carlton. Prompt and kind, with great attention to detail. Drinks were very good. My wife highly recommended her spicy margarita and espresso martini. The beer selection was just alright but I did enjoy a nonalcoholic cocktail. The food, however, was the main star of the show. The restaurant offered everything from standard bar fare to more upscale dishes, such as iberico pork and better cuts of beef. I personally enjoyed the iberico pork immensely, and thought it was full of flavor and a very interesting dish. The restaurant was very accommodating and allowed my wife to order the delicious burger from the bar next door and my wife loved that as well as the very crisp french fries that came with it. The prices were all round reasonable costing about ~60pp with drinks. I would recommend this spot if you are at the hotel. Ambiance: 3/5 Service: 4/5 Drinks: 4.5/5 Food: 4.5/5 Value: 4/5 Consistency: N/A read more

Raya - Iberico pork secreto - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

We ate here two nights in a row. The first night was so good we had to come back. We had Jennifer as our server . The first night we had the seafood, enchiladas, which were amazing. They might've been filled in with too much shrimp, but they were still great. We also had the fillet which was great, but they're better flavors to experience here. I love the swordfish dip, and the Caesar salad was great. One in innovation is it used ground croutons rather than giant chunky ones. I don't like chunky croutons the second night. I had the brazed short rib and the Bronzino. We bought the small plate shrimp as an appetizer. The service is great and the view of the ocean is amazing. Looking forward to going again.y read more

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First, the good: We actually started our evening at the bar, and I have to say, we received wonderful service there despite how busy it was. The bartenders were attentive, friendly, and made great drinks while managing a full crowd. The two hostesses working on Friday night when we visited were both super sweet. We brought a bouquet of flowers for a friend's birthday dinner, and not only did they keep it safe for us; they even put the flowers in a vase while we waited for the birthday celebrant. That thoughtful touch really stood out and set a nice tone for the evening. The large windows overlooking the ocean are absolutely stunning and make for a beautiful ambiance. Unfortunately, that's where the positives end. The whole dining experience after that was honestly a disaster. Granted, we were waiting on one person to arrive, but the staff wasn't attentive or consistent about checking on our table. Our server, Jessica, genuinely tried her best, but her efforts were overshadowed by everything else that went wrong. I wasn't feeling well that night, so I kept it simple and ordered the Caesar Salad with shrimp and it turned out to be the saltiest salad I've ever had in my life. I ended up only eating a few pieces of shrimp because the rest was just inedible. Another guest at our table sent back her octopus because it was cold. The menu had only one vegan option, and everyone else in our group also complained about their food. To make matters worse, the entire dining experience dragged on for three hours. Multiple staff members would walk by and completely ignore tables calling out for help, not even a "let me grab your server." It felt like no one wanted to deal with anything outside of their assigned section. Jessica could only do so much on her own. For a restaurant inside the Ritz-Carlton, the level of service and food quality were shockingly disappointing. Sadly, this will be a one-and-done experience for me. read more

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I've had two separate experiences at Raya this year, and both were unacceptable -- which is disappointing because the rest of the property has consistently been excellent. Kahani, the club lounge, and the Marketplace all delivered exactly what you expect from a hotel at this level: attentive, well-trained staff, seamless service, and a clear understanding of hospitality standards. That's why I've never focused on smaller issues before -- they didn't outweigh the overall quality of the stay. Unfortunately, Raya has now been the exception twice. The first time, back in January, the food quality wasn't on point-I ordered the blackened tuna tacos and they were completely inedible. I didn't complain or send them back -- I simply left it at that. Today was service from one particular server Taylor. I had just come down from the club lounge and remembered that I had a complimentary voucher given at check-in, which didn't specify what it covered on it. I first asked at the lobby bar and no one was able to provide a clear answer, so I went next door to Raya and asked again before ordering. The hostess told me I could choose anything and even recommended the skirt steak. She was kind and friendly. Taylor took my order, and I reasonably assumed there had been communication between staff. So I spent some time ordering and waiting and when my food arrived since I asked for a to go order, I grabbed the bag, tipped, and left. Then Taylor ran after me at the hotel entrance asking how I planned to pay -- in front of other guests. It was an extremely uncomfortable and bizarre situation. I didn't realize what has happened I was just handed the bill and I put my room number and name down. I was then told the voucher only covered guacamole, which directly contradicted what I had been told prior to ordering. As a result, I wasted approximately 40 minutes of my time, I was simply trying to head to the beach before departing, and instead found myself dealing with a situation that should have been handled internally and discreetly. When I handed the food back and said I did not want it, the response was "ok, I'll toss it," followed by no acknowledgment, no apology, and no effort to resolve the situation. At this point, this is no longer an isolated incident. For a restaurant positioned as fine dining, the lack of internal communication, consistency, and basic guest handling is surprising -- especially when every other outlet on the property demonstrates a significantly higher standard. Raya was the only part of the experience that felt misaligned with the rest of the hotel -- and unfortunately, it's the last impression I'm leaving with. read more

Raya is such a beautiful spot inside the Ritz-Carlton and makes the perfect setting for a romantic date night or a classy evening out. I stopped by with my sister before a Candlelight tribute to Coldplay, and the atmosphere alone made the night feel extra special. It was pretty packed when we arrived, so we headed straight to the bar to grab some drinks. The bar area itself is cozy but definitely has limited seating, so don't be surprised if you end up wandering a bit. The nice part is you can take your drinks and sit almost anywhere in the hotel. We found a comfy spot outside in the lobby area with plush couches and plenty of space to relax. The bartenders were amazing--super friendly, quick, and on top of everything despite the crowd. I ordered a gin drink that was light, refreshing, and just perfect. We didn't get a chance to try the food since we had eaten earlier at another restaurant on the property, but everything coming out of the kitchen looked fantastic. Overall, Raya is a lovely place to enjoy a drink, soak in the ambiance, and elevate your night out. Definitely worth checking out, especially for date nights or special occasions. read more

So professional; felt like a princess with the window seat! Simply stunning view, and the food is incredible! The photos are just some of the food items we got! read more

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The food was great for breakfast and the place is very clean. Amazing views from the restaurant. Our waiter was professional and attentive, can't wait to come back again. I highly recommend this place for family, friends or any ocassion! read more

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This restaurant will absolutely surprise you. Elizabeth helped us out and she was a savant. Everything she picked was spot on. The branzino is world class. The seafood enchiladas were stuffed with seafood and the views are incredible. read more

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5 star experience on both food, service (6 stars imo) and ambiance. Ambiance - magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean while enjoying a nice meal. Who wouldn't want that.. Service - our servers were very attentive and nice. Took the time to answer our questions and checked in constantly to make sure we're doing great. Can't ask for a more immaculate experience. Very kid friendly Food - see pictures! Everything was good! read more

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Ocean front dining at its best. I had the pleasure of dining here one evening after a candlelight concert and this restaurant exceeded my expectations. The view is gorgeous, the wait staff were knowledgeable and attentive and the food was incredible. We had the shrimp appetizer which was flash fried and tossed in delicious sauce and I had the branzino which has unique flavors that I enjoyed. I would love to come back to try more of the menu. read more

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Brunch & view review It was a gloomy morning but the view was impeccable! Came here for a small birthday gathering and it was delightful~~~ it was quite slow when we arrived but by the time we left (mid-lunch) it was bustling. Great food to start the day with attentive service. The food spread was superb. read more

Raya - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

We stopped in for a late-night cocktail and to continue celebrating a friend's birthday on an extremely busy Friday evening. Allisann was the only waitress covering the floor tables and she did a fantastic job. Unlike our last visit, we missed out on the beautiful tray of complimentary snacks (almonds, wasabi nuts, & mixed nuts), but we did enjoy a Fireside Smoked Old Fashioned ($28), an Elegancy ($22), a glass of Stags Leap Chardonnay ($25), and finished it off with a Golden Nightcap ($26) and a couple White Russians ($18/ea.) All drinks were very well made and came out quickly. We also mentioned the birthday and received a small, but delicious ice cream sundae with celebratory candle. It's the Ritz, so yes, it's a little pricy, but the service and beverages are worth splurging occasionally. We had a wonderful experience and will definitely stop in again. NOTE: The Ritz Carlton offers complimentary valet parking, but tips are appreciated. read more

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Met a friend for lunch to celebrate both of our birthdays. It was a beautiful day and we were seated at the window with an unobstructed view of the ocean. Service was stellar, very tentative and so polite and friendly. Our food selection was delicious as well. I had the seafood enchiladas with an ice tea. I loved the red sauce it was served with. Very yummy! My friend had the seafood cocktail aguachile which has a little kick which she loves and a side salad. For our birthday they came out with a delectable chocolate mousse cake. So decadent ! All in all a perfect afternoon at the Ritz!! read more

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Raya at the Ritz is on the Fritz. Service was so slow, one hour wait to get food Fight with staff to get window seat even when one was available. Truffle fries were stale and hard. Tuna tartar chips were bottom of bag, chips of chips (like smashed chips) no table cloth or steak knife offered for my short ribs. House water was like drinking ocean after salty but cold. Bottom line is this restaurant as not worthy of a Ritz hotel and should be shut down. It's a disaster and a disgrace to the Ritz. Look at how many 1 star reviews it has. read more

I celebrated my birthday last month at Raya. I chose the Ritz because it's such a beautiful spot and was hoping to catch the sunset at 180blu, but we didn't make it early enough this time. A couple of years ago, Raya had a wonderful vegan menu, but currently there's just one plant-based entrée available, and it did not disappoint. The Black Beluga Lentils with roasted heirloom carrots, orange carrot purée, grilled scallions, and ancho chili red wine sauce were flavorful and perfectly balanced. To the guests next to me who ordered the half chicken, it looked "too healthy," but honestly, it was delicious and I enjoyed every bite. I also tried the Fresh Press mocktail made with blackberry, basil, lemon lime soda, and sparkling water. It was refreshing and not overly sweet. For dessert, they offered three kinds of sorbet, and the coconut was incredible. It was a Friday night and not too busy, though everyone at our table noticed that our waitress wasn't very attentive. Next time, I'll probably stop by the outdoor bar just to enjoy the ocean view and sunset. read more

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Good food, nice service . We have different types of food. Not the best but meet my expectations

My 5 stars is mainly because their Mercado margarita may have been one of the best margaritas I have ever had. I haven't stopped thinking about it since last weekend. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Service and food were great too!! read more

Raya - Ahi tuna tacos and Boa Buns - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Go for the views and enjoy the food. Th ultra large arched windows peer down at the surfers, surfing off salt creek beach. It's a continuous show and fun to have a birds eye view. We had breakfast, lunch and dinner during our stay. Dinner: food was very good- we had miso cod with interesting miniature vegetables. Great flavor in the fish but honestly it's hard to screw up a piece of black cod. Had the potato leek soup with pancetta - OMG delicious - but very rich just to give you a heads up. Heres a tip, their Caesar salad was very good but if you order it "as is" you get a 1/2 head of romaine plopped down on a plate and you have to do all the work of cutting the lettuce and sardine fillets , mixing , and pouring the dressing. Better option: Have them do it they do a great job. Heres another tip: if you aren't that hungry, each of you order the salad and split the soup - yes its that rich. Don't bother with the Salvadoran cheese rolls. Firstly they weren't even rolls, they were muffins and pretty much to do about nothing. Finally we had this abomination of a cocktail - Mercado margarita - see the pic , if you like sweet , this drink is for you. It wont be so bad if they didn't call it a margarita but it bears little resemblance to anything close to a margarita Rather than talk about the lunch and breakfast, I'm just going to focus on the service. So when you dine at a 5 star resort you tend to not hear the word no. So when we asked the maitre D if we could sit at the empty table by the window to dine and watch the surfers, we heard "no that table is set up for high tea" i asked what time high tea was and they said 2 pm.- it was 12:30 so we said we will be gone by 2 and the waiter and maitre d looked at each other and begrudgingly agreed to seat us. Service was not up to what you would expect in a 5 star hotel. We got to maître D desk for both breakfast and lunch and waited a couple of minutes for someone to notice us and they just thought that was the norm. Then both times we were seated at our table for 5 min before anyone comes and offers us water and once you are eating they rarely come by to check on you. In fact we also had to flag down our waiter to get the bill when it was clear we were done. read more

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Our family really enjoys dining at Raya on special occasions. It's truly one of the few places where the food quality competes with the expansive ocean views! The service we get from Taylor is always impeccable and he goes above and beyond with his level of professionalism balanced with friendliness to our kids. Also a shout out to Chris, Ryan and the rest of the breakfast team for always making us feel at home. read more

Beautiful day place, especially on special occasions such as Mother's Day, etc because they decorate it with such detail. The food is also amazing, I had the salmon last I went and it melted in my mouth. The staff is attentive, and it makes for an all around luxurious and memorable dining experience. Not to mention the view and valet! read more

Raya - Salmon - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

This beautiful restaurant is located right inside the Ritz-Carlton hotel. We requested to be seated by the large windows to enjoy the beach view at sunset. We weren't too hungry so we ordered some drinks, fries, and ceviche. It's a great spot to chat and enjoy the view! Cocktails were also very refreshing and delicious. Parking is valet only! read more

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We had a wonderful experience at RAYA. The Achiote salmon dish was incredibly tasty--perfectly cooked and full of flavor. Service was excellent: attentive, warm, and seamless throughout the meal. The Christmas atmosphere really elevated the experience, with beautiful décor and live music creating a festive, relaxed vibe. Overall, it was a memorable and elegant dining experience. Definitely a special spot for the holidays or a celebratory night out. read more

Raya - Achiote Salmon - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

We ate several meals at Raya while staying on the property. Everything was delicious. The service is a stand out. Top notch. It's a beautiful place to dine with a full ocean view . read more

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PERFECT!!!! Surprised I had never been here before let's just say the View is unbelievable honestly no matter where you sit! Food was delicious!!! Service was amazing! And prices are beyond great I would say entrees are like 30-40 a person which for the view the food everything it's worth way more than that! Amazing to come by your self, on a date a special occasion just everything! Craving this spot as I write this review! read more

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Wow, what a beautiful restaurant with amazing beachfront views located inside the Ritz Carlton. It's not a huge restaurant so make sure you make reservations in advance. When I checked in, the host seated us immediately and wished me a happy birthday as it was notated in the reservation. Our waiter also wished me a happy birthday and I just love these personal touches as it makes special days feel extra special! We went for brunch and they offer a 4 course meal for $75 which is honestly a steal for the quality, portions, and the ambiance/views. We ordered a nice bottle of champagne and our waiter wanted to chill it for a bit so he offered us a glass of Veuve while we waited for our bottle to chill. How nice and talk about good service! Each entree was delicious and timed perfectly as each plate arrived shortly after we finished each dish. Dessert was really nice and they wrote happy birthday and included a candle. They also had a live musician who was singing and playing the guitar - he was really good and I enjoyed the music. After we finished dining, we took a walk outside near the beach. It was a fantastic birthday celebration. Be sure to validate your valet parking (goes from $30 to $15 with validation). read more

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The best part is the view. The food is good (not amazing). The service is usually good but a bit harried and inconsistent. That said we had a great time both times. At first I wished to be right at the window but after seeing the people getting scorched from the sun I was fine with being a bit away while still enjoying the view. read more

This is such a beautiful restaurant, and I love all the employees especially the hostess, Cayde, she's so sweet and lovely. I usually order the same thing which is the piloncillo shrimp. It's kind of spicy I had them put the sauce on the side I also ordered the Brussels sprouts but they forgot to exclude the sausage so I can't eat it. read more

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Brought hubby here for his bday brunch. I'm generally not a fan of prefix menus. This 4-course meal was thoughtfully planned out. Every dish was made with quality & fresh ingredients. We were extremely satisfied with every bite. Service was wonderful. We got seated by the table looking out to the ocean. Ambience was intimate & very zen. read more

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Only reason I'm giving them two stars is because of the location and views. Service was terrible, like absolutely horrendous especially for the price. You'd expect high end fine dining service but not here. They kept filling up our water every time we had one sip, which was so uncomfortable. Food took FOREVER. It was ok honestly, the oysters were pretty good. vibes were just weird and uncomfortable mainly cuz the staff make you feel like they have no energy for you, only for you water lol. Never coming back here. read more

Raya - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

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My husband and I went here for our anniversary dinner. I mean is there a more beautiful spot!!! It is a restaurant within the Ritz Carlton so it is California fancy, and the views are spectacular!! Tonight. Our waitress was Mary and she was perfect. She was very attentive and very helpful in helping us get our order just right! We ended up splitting a Caesar salad and then I had the Chipotle Miso Cod ... not only was a presentation very pretty, but the dish itself was absolutely wonderful! My husband had the chicken dish... I don't remember the name of his, but he loved it. Since it was our anniversary they brought us a little something special for dessert... See photos attached! I cannot wait to come here again... My next visit, I must sit at the window... where you have the most beautiful view of sunset! I can't wait! read more

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Brunch review: Overall I would give it a 4.5 stars. I had a great experience for brunch at Raya. Food was a prix fixe menu and everything we ate was tasty. The starter guacamole was really good too. We had the steak/eggs, lobster roll, seafood campechana, potato cakes, cheesecake and chocolate torte. The steak was really good and cooked to a perfect medium rare per my request. The lobster roll wasn't our fave though and for the upcharge, I was expecting it to be better. The desserts were great also. All the portions were the right amount to not be overstuffed so you still have energy to go about your day and enjoy the Dana point weather. The view is beautiful! read more

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What an incredible view you have here from this restaurant. It was Super Bowl Sunday so the restaurant was not full which actually made it quite nice. The waiters were incredible attentive. What a wonderful ambiance this place carries. We tried many dishes: Swordfish Dip- Absolutely delicious order it Octopus maya-delicious order it Fig salad- okay, maybe try the Cesar Kids chicken tenders- kid liked it Achiote Salmon- delicious order it Seafood enchiladas- delicious order it Peach parfait-pretty good Raya cream brûlée -pretty good Kids brownie sundae- kid liked it Absolutely worth a dine in here. read more

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What an enjoyable night we had here for our 30 years wedding anniversary dinner! When we arrived, we were greeted with a big smile from the hostess, then handed 2 glasses of champagne while we were waiting for an ocean view table. The foods we ordered were so delicious and fresh, service was beyond our expectations. Great atmosphere with ocean views from all tables. We will return for any special occasions for sure! read more

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