Salt Creek is my go to place for steak. They always cook it to perfection. The staff is incredibly kind and provides exceptional service. The place is always spotless, and the overall ambiance is great for date nights. Also, a big shoutout to Nasmy. She's the best. She remembers your name and always greets you if she's ever served you before. That alone makes me return. read more

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Went to this place for brunch for the first time. The ambiance was beautiful and they had great service. The food here was very delicious, I had ordered a crab omelette and it was fresh crab . I definitely recommend this place if you are in this area. read more

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Salt Creek Grille absolutely knocked it out of the park. Everything we ordered was incredible from start to finish. We started with the bacon wrapped shrimp and the crab dip, and both were packed with flavor and perfectly prepared. The wedge salad was crisp and refreshing, and for our mains we had the sea bass, pork chop, and the French dip. Every single dish was cooked beautifully and tasted amazing. The sea bass was especially outstanding, but honestly there were no weak dishes at all. And then there was the butter cake. Wow. It was the perfect ending to an already fantastic meal and easily one of the best desserts we have had in a long time. On top of the food, our server was wonderful. Attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience even better. Great food, great service, great atmosphere. We will absolutely be coming back. Highly recommend! read more

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This place is outstanding, I'll say it again this place is F&@ken OUTSTANDING. The service was excellent!!!!!! The outside patio was amazing ! Me and my wife said it's one of the best meals we've had in years at a restaurant!!!! We orders a sourdough cheese, garlic bread that was insane !!!!! Chicken piccata and Short rib dish. Do not miss not coming here if your in the area. read more

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, OR HOME ALONE, COME HERE, FOR SOME CHEERS... SALT CREEK GRILLE, Dana Point, California! Family in Town, or if you're Home Alone, You Gotta come here for some Happy Holiday Cheers! My Husband and I have been coming back to Salt Creek Grille for so many many (27) years! And we were sad to see the original owners sell, but excited for the New Owners to do well! And I must say, all the renovations they have made to this place, are better then ever and made the place Great Again, ever since they opened in June 2024! It's definitely a more Upscale Dining Experience indeed! I Love how they've brought back the Welcoming Fireplace at the front entrance! Their outdoor patio is lovely too! It's a perfect place for their evening concerts & a great space to host a private party! There is even an area with Sand for the Kids to play! Their updated menu has some Delicious Options! And I love how they've kept some of original SCG favorites! Their Chilean Sea Bass is Always Ahh~Mazing! My Husband and I often share our version of a Surf & Turf... We Love their Blue Fin Tuna, so Fresh & Delicious and it pairs well with their Mesquite Grilled Double R Ranch Filet or their 18 oz. Ribeye! Their Steaks are Melt in your Mouth delicious and pairs Wonderfully with one of their Fine Wines! OMG! ~25+ Year Old 5.5 lbs of California Grown Spiny Lobster Sighting Found Here! We rarely have room for Dessert, but when I do, I'm going to get their Butter or Lava Cake! And I Must mention their MONDAY NIGHT Worthy SPECIALS... Ohhh, My Oh My, they have a Freaking Massive Chicken Pot Pie and their Prime Rib Special is also a Touchdown, it's so tender & both are more than enough to share! They have a Lively Lounge with a Piano Man! And their back door "Walker Lounge" space has been recently expanded! It's a Great Spot to Watch a game! And now they're Hosting Cool Party Events there, too! They Have a "Locals Only" Menu in the Lounge M-F, 4-6pm, Sat & Sun, 3-6pm, and All Day on Mondays! Their Weekend Brunch is a Must! We Love their Bloody Mary's and Egg Benny's! Service has Always been Superb here and we Always can't wait to come back to SALT CREEK GRILLE again! read more

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Happy Hour = Sad Hour! Prices too high for "happy hour". Ordered a lemon drop martini for $18 and the bartender did a short pour. When I asked him he rudely said everything is pre measured and there was nothing he could do for me. Rude and couldn't care less about customers. His name is Tyler! Would not recommend going there unless you want to spend a lot of money!! read more

Love this place! I come here a couple times per month and I always sit in the bar area because the bar staff is always on point! Ted, Luis and brother/sister team, Andy and Mo, are all the best! My favorite drinks are the beach bunny and espresso martini. The bacon wrapped shrimp and artichoke are my fav apps and the braised short ribs and shrimp linguini are the tastiest entrees. read more

Sorry to report. Not a good experience. First thing we see when sitting down is how dirty the water glasses were... some just had water spots, but others had greasy fingerprints all over them... one steak knife was "sticky". Get a better dish washer and polish your glasses and check the utensils. The service was extremely slow, due to the kitchen that was way backed up. We waited 75 minutes for our entrees. The chicken was dry, but my braised short-rib was delicious. And the restaurant was only 25% occupied from 6pm to 8:30pm on a Sunday night. The molten lava cake wasn't, the creambrule had zero carmelized sugar (it was torched hours before being taken out of the refrigerator). This restaurant has seen better days. Sad to see. read more

We came here for a belated Father's Day brunch to celebrate my father-in-law and Sarah was absolutely fantastic! Service was incredible, the crab omelette, crab eggs benedict and banana pancakes were delicious, drinks were absolutely amazing; Sarah was so attentive and hilarious. We loved our time here and would absolutely come back for brunch to see Sarah again!! She even made sure he got a special little cake for Father's Day. Thank you Sarah, you were wonderful! read more

Salt Creek Grille - Eggs Benedict with crab - Steakhouses Near Me - Dana Point, California

Shout out to Colton!! The service was impeccable. I went with a group of friends to celebrate my birthday on a Thursday afternoon (before line dancing). I was a little disappointed to find out happy hour only applied to the bar, but we sat on the patio and still had a great experience. When we got there around 4:30, it was quiet and we had the whole patio to ourselves. Eventually it started filling up and service became slower (reasonably so). But, I ended up missing all of line dancing! A little disappointing, but I still was able to enjoy the live band and pretty atmosphere. All our food was fabulous and I LOVED the complementary birthday cake! We had such a great experience and I can't wait go back soon! read more

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Had not been here since they changed hands. Very good! Very very nice Aaron helped us pick out something delicious on the menu. He took his time to explain the menu. Such a pleasant experience. He made it even more pleasant! Very warm and friendly, very sincere. I will definitely be back read more

Salt Creek Grille - Steakhouses Near Me - Dana Point, California

What a disappointing experience. We arrived around 4:30 PM, and the restaurant was uncomfortably hot. It was obvious the air conditioning either wasn't on or wasn't being used until the early dinner rush started coming in. For a restaurant charging these prices, guests shouldn't have to sit through dinner sweating and uncomfortable. The cleanliness was also a major issue. Our water glasses were stained and dirty, and the tables were sticky, making the entire place feel poorly maintained. These are basic details that should never be overlooked, especially at this price point. Considering how much our bill was, we left feeling like we had wasted our evening. We honestly would have had a much better experience at Houston's or Nick's. What makes it even more disappointing is that the location is absolutely phenomenal and has so much potential. Unfortunately, the atmosphere, cleanliness, and overall experience simply did not justify the cost. A beautiful location can only take a restaurant so far. We learned our lesson and will not be dining here again. read more

Sadly this was my birthday dinner and our experience wasn't great. Our waitress Chelsy was so rude and not professional. She was upset that I sent my soda back for not being fizzy. Come to find out the machine wasn't working correctly. She gave my husband such a hard time he wanted to leave. The manager came and apologized to us about the soda machine so my husband provided feedback. We ended up getting a new waiter who was much nicer and was in fun sprites. Be mindful when going here. As for food: yellow tail crudo - not worth the price, all the add ons took away from the fish. It also needed some salt Seared ahi tuna - delicious, perfectly balanced and full of flavor Firewood steak - Juicy and perfectly cooked. The fire really enhanced the meat, 10 out of 10 Desserts - Butter cake was good but very sweet and rich Tres Leches - moist and delicious read more

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The last time I was here was before Covid. I started coming here two weeks ago because my girls wanted to do line dancing on Thursdays. We've asked for our favorite waiter, Sterling, for the second time. He is awesome, tentative, cheerful, personable, and most of all great customer service! The food we ordered were tasty and great for sharing: Bacon Wrapped Shrimp , Baked Sourdough Loaf, and Brussels Sprouts. And, you can't get any fresher than this...they have a tank full of live crabs that are FRESH served to order. Under new management, this place has completely come alive! The atmosphere is vibrant and welcoming, making anyone feel right at home. The staff and customers are so friendly, and visits are always looked forward to with live entertainment. read more

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Easy to find, ample parking and plenty of seating on a Tuesday night. Met girlfriends for appetizers and girl time. Servers were attentive. Live music was a plus. Booths were comfy and the fireplace added a nice ambiance. Indoor and outdoor seating. Extending dry January so can't comment on the bar offerings. Appetizers were a gold mine. Bacon wrapped shrimp - nice and crispy while the shrimp remained juicy. 3 per order. Yum. Taquitos - star of the night. Served two (cut into halves) per order with shredded lettuce, chopped tomato and some amazing crema sauce. So good we ordered 2! Steak bites - holy moly. Served 3 skewers per order and accompanied by a side of chimichurri sauce. If only I'd have paused to snap a photo. Again, ordered 2 of these and split among 3 of us we all enjoyed this app. Finally the sourdough bread. Cut into 6 wedges this small boule was the perfect size with garlic and cheese stuffed into the center. A nice way to mop up any leftover chimi, I really enjoyed downing these carbs. Pleasant experience and would definitely come back for happy hour, live music or a nice dinner out. read more

We had my daughter's wedding reception in the private lounge. The food and service were amazing. The experience surpassed my expectations. Kelli took excellent care of my party. Her staff was professional and polite. Every detail was well thought out and executed. Thank you all so much!! read more

Salt Creek Grille - Lounge - Steakhouses Near Me - Dana Point, California

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My first impression was not what I expected. Arriving at 5 pm with a reservation and no waiting. Walked up to hostess and became invisible to her. A few minutes later I explained we had a reservation and she said go sit anywhere. The inside is well maintained and had entertainment to set the mood. It's my wife's birthday. We sat ourselves down and ordered a bottle of wine and all was well. My suggestion would be make sure your server is well versed on wine lists and specific specialties you're offering on that day . The menu was very simple to order from our selection was Chilean seared Seabass, garlic shrimp linguine and chicken piccata. The Chilean seared Seabass was not seared and more like a rubber texture, the Garlic Shrimp linguine was ok but are the tails traditionally served on them to where you can't enjoy the whole shrimp? Eating linguine and cutting off the tails to enjoy the shrimp seems to be a bit unwarranted and waste. As far as the chicken piccata I can't give any comment on that seeing that it was a guest we invited with us to celebrate my wife's birthday. At the beginning, I did announce that it was my wife's birthday and on other experiences at a fine restaurant, they would make some type of acknowledgment to help make it more celebratory occasion. This is just meant for awareness not a rant. The question is would I eat there again probably because it is one of my wife's favorite locations. I hope this helps. read more

We came on a Sunday evening with reservations. Checking in was easy and we got seated right away. We seemed to get a lot of attention and so hospitality is great at Salt Creek Grille. We wanted to try the Rock Crab Dip but they were out that day which was fine because the Bacon Wrapped Shrimp and Roasted Bone Marrow hit the spot! I literally crave the Roasted Bone Marrow. Our server recommended the Coffee Crusted NY which was a great rec! We also ordered the braised short ribs - no regrets there! So much flavor! Our server also recommended the brussels sprouts which was soooo good! The butter cake also hit the spot. I totally appreciated the conversation we had with our server after our meal. I know the restaurant was closed so I appreciate the time he took to chat with us. read more

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I have driven by this place my entire life and I have never regretted it more! Popped in here for a happy hour the staff is absolutely amazing, Raven and Sophia in the front took care of me the whole time ! I left my water bottle when I moved tables they came and brought it to me , they heard me complaining about my phone being dead and brought me a charger ! 10/10 food , drinks and service !! read more

Salt Creek Grille - Yummy cocktail! - Steakhouses Near Me - Dana Point, California

We had dinner at Salt Creek Grille last night. Keep in mind, we had my son's rehearsal dinner there a few years ago and had a great experience. We have been many times over the years and always have good service and food. Last night was the exception. It was too busy for the kitchen to keep up. They had a band outside and it was packed. Standing room and a long wait at the inside bar for any drinks. We finally say for dinner. No water even though I asked 4 times. Our drinks took 45 minutes. There was also a mix up at the bar on my friend's credit card they had to refund. Our steaks were over cooked and took so long to come out. Our reservation was for 8pm and our dinner came after 9. I hope this is a one off and not how it is there now. Too expensive for the poor experience read more

So my husband and I came here for our date night. The remodel looks really good. The booths are comfortable... thankfully the right height for the table! ( a pet peeve of mine ) the lighting, just right and the live music is great without being too loud to talk Tonight we had a server and a server in training, both were fantastic. My husband had the lamb chops because apparently those are amazing here!! I had the salmon and for appetizers we had the steamed artichoke and the shrimp cocktail. I don't know how they make their artichokes, but I find them absolutely delicious ! Because it was a special occasion, we finished up with crème brûlée and shots of espresso. Everything was really good! read more

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Had early Christmas dinner with my in laws on a Sunday. We sat outdoor where they had a tent set up with a Christmas tree and pretty lights. Service was great, got our food in a timely manner. I had the sea bass which was cooked well but had a bit of fishy taste to it. Hubbs got a burger which he enjoyed. read more

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Extremely disappointing service for Father's Day brunch We initially booked a reservation and and were given the option between the regular menu and buffet (we have screenshots). We chose regular menu. We arrived this morning on time for our reservation and asked to be seated outside as there was live music that could only be enjoyed if you were sitting outside. The same live music that they advertise, which was most of the reason why we chose to go to this venue for Father's Day brunch over many choices in the area. We were told that the outside was completely booked. We pointed out that we also had a reservation and we would like to sit outside. Mind you, sitting inside or outside was not an option to select when booking a reservation online. We were told this was not possible and had to sit inside. The music cannot be heard from inside the restaurant. We were also told that there was no regular menu and we were forced to eat the buffet. This buffet was $79 with no drinks included. No one in our party wanted the buffet. Three of our four guests would not even be able to eat enough food to justify a $79 cost. We were told there was no other option and we had to eat from the buffet at this point we wanted to leave, however it's Father's Day and we really had no other option but to sit there. On top of this, we had extremely poor service by the wait staff. Our plates were left dirty in front of us. My father-in-law had to get up from the table and put his dirty plate over on the busser station himself. To add insult injury, there was a 20% tip added to the bill that we could not remove. Why would we pay 20% when our server did absolutely nothing? They couldn't even clear dirty plates let alone them not even serving us any of our food, taking orders, bringing condiments, etc but they thought they DESERVED a $100 tip for simply showing up and saying hello once. All of those outside tables that they swore were completely booked- they set at least 50% empty the entire time we were there eating our brunch. The venue had truly gone downhill under the new ownership and we will not be back after this horrible experience. read more

Update: My mom and I keep coming back and thing just keep getting better and better. My mom had had the sliders for Happy Hour and loved them and the last time we were in there she tried the steak bites of the Happy Hour again and this time it was perfect. Everything was cooked and delicious as is my virgin passion fruit martini. Luis, Ted and Thomas are all phenomenal people behind the bar. This is one of the best places to go in OC for Happy Hour or dinner or just to bring your family and friends who are visiting from out of town. I know you'll be completely satisfied from the moment you step foot into this wonderful establishment. read more

Went here with my bestie to celebrate the night before her wedding day. We decided to share the ceasar salad, chicken sandwich and fish and chips. They were all good, but for the prices I was expecting a higher quality of food. Same went for the $20 cocktails, it was just lacking for me. The service was great and had a really nice ambiance. They even had a piano player singing, thus the 4 stars I gave them. But for the amount of money we spent ($65 pp) I just expected more. It would have been nice if they did a little something special for my friend as well! read more

Salt Creek Grille - Shared half blackened chicken sandwich and order of fish and chips - Steakhouses Near Me - Dana Point, California

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We've found the Salt Creek Grille a very worthy return over the last several years - from Sunday Brunch to date nights. The atmosphere is always most pleasant inside and they've continued to provide outdoor opportunities worthy of one's consideration. The sand play area outside is great for small children with lounge seating to enjoy spirits and conversation. The entry deck has nice high tops - with glimpses of the ocean across PCH. Heaters scattered throughout. Note: PCH drivers / vehicles can be interruptive when trying to enjoy the outdoor settings - but it is typically brief and intermittent. Host / Service staff have always been knowledgeable, attentive and on point. Food (options / preparation) is consistently well done with delicious options to indulge or share together. read more

Absolutely horrible experience. We were there the night family style played. We had a reservation for three months they gave away our table. We waited hours for lousy food and even longer for drinks. Will never return. Completely disorganized when they have live music. I suggest you try a different venue if you wanna relaxing fun evening. read more

It was a brunch reservation with my partner and our first time trying this place. We started with bacon wrapped shrimp which was really good; Their Steak and eggs was delish and my partner had the steak frites which was also to her liking but the best part was the dessert - we tried the butter cake and it was perfect paired with a good cup of coffee and this is a must try. Service was great combined with exquisite atmosphere. I would definitely come back for their dinner selections. read more

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I have driven by this place a million times and some friends have said they loved it. Especially their sushi? Well turns out, the ownership changed, as did the menu. The photos on yelp are inaccurate if they are over a year old. We came for happy hour. The bartenders were very friendly and helpful. The food, however, was just okay. We got the buffalo wings, taquitos, sliders, and a salad (the salad was not on happy hour) The taquitos were the best. Clearly homemade and really good. The wings were standard wings. The sliders were inedible. We retuned them. They tasted like they came from frozen meat. The vibe inside feels like a hotel restaurant. Drab colors. No real soul. Just really ho hum. They do have a big TV for watching sports in the back. That's a plus for weekend brunch. There was nothing about this place that made me think "We have to come back again!" read more

First time here. Saw the mixed reviews and wondered what the truth is. Well, I think this place is good but has room to seriously improve. The staff are very friendly and surfer like. The food is good. I had the prime rib dip and my husband had the baby back ribs. Where they came short: My prime rib dip on the menu said it came with horseradish cream. When my food arrived it wasn't on the plate. I asked for it and it felt like I was asking for something extra. Then looked at the menu and there it was. Sadly, it took about 15 minutes to actually get it to me after I ate almost half my meal slowly. The waiter said the staff was having issues. I also ordered a cherry coke when we arrived and still didn't have it when my food came. I had to remind the waiter about my cherry coke. Then I finally got it. Lastly, our water was only refilled once (not a big deal) but we're big water drinkers. This place kind of reminded me of Nick's restaurant with similar prices but very much lacking in service in comparison. The vibe is good and it could be a nice place to hang out and have a drink or play horn hole. Hopefully, they work out the kinks with their staff. read more

Salt Creek Grille - Baby Back Ribs - Steakhouses Near Me - Dana Point, California

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The fish and French fries were very fresh, savory, crispy, fluffy, flavorful, and delicious. Also, the ketchup was super tangy, and the strawberry lemonade was really tasty, sweet, and refreshing, and the calamari was crunchy and chewy, too. Good service, nice atmosphere with pretty live music, and I had an excellent experience here tonight. read more

Salt Creek Grille - Fish, French fries, and ketchup. - Steakhouses Near Me - Dana Point, California

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The problem with this place is a multitude of situations. 1) wait time. If you quote a certain time as a walk in, you honor it. A 30 min wait time, understandable that you wait, maybe a little over knowing that you made a patron wait to try your food. Go over, and communicate knowing that they waited to eat at your restaurant. 40 minutes and nothing. Strike 1 2) communication. 4 people standing at front of house and no one comes over to communicate? Not acceptable. Offered a substitute at the bar next to the band that's too loud after we said we've waited over our time without communication, no thanks. Finally, the hostess comes out and says we're ready to sit you. We said great, they usher us outside and where do they take us, at an outside tent. Not one person in there. 20 tables, not one mention that that is where we would be seated and being ushered there, unacceptable. 3) reservation system. We arrived at 605. We walked in knowing on their OpenTable app that there was reservations available at 615, 630, 7. Why make a reservation if we're at the location and we've put our name in? The front said 30 min wait but knowing there were spots available, you would think with our name being in the queue that would be sufficient, nope. I guess their system doesn't work that way. Reservations shouldn't be available 10-20 minutes from dining time. Thats restaurant business 101. People game the system and doesn't give restaurants enough time to make up for walk ins. But knowing walk ins are a big part of their business as much as reservations, sometimes managers need to make decisions to compensate for longer wait for walk jns and those who have reservations. 3). Management. You can tell this place isn't well run. On a Saturday, the bar is empty with open seating and the restaurant is packed. Theres a band at the bar, but it's too loud. They sound great but in a dinner setting, it doesn't belong. Nicer ambient music is better served. After we were ushered to the outside tent, I asked to speak to the manager. After discussing the situation and knowing that he directed the front of house to move us to each seating, it's evident that the manager doesn't know how to manage a restaurant. All these things could've easily been handled effectively in a manner that was satisfactory but wasn't. Now you have a non client who won't frequent this restaurant and will speak poorly for the foreseeable future, all because the manager didn't handle the situation correctly. read more

Decided to eat here based on the multiple reviews. We have been in Dana point for over a week and everything that we have eaten has been amazing. This dinner was so disappointing on multiple levels. Couldn't decide on what we wanted so ordered the Monday special, which was prime rib. The prime rib was the toughest I've ever had and I struggled to just cut through it. The vegetables were over salted but not overdone. The horseradish sauce was the best part of this meal. read more