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    What a Dish Cafe & Catering

    4.2 (1.2k reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 9:30 pm

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    Services - What a Dish Cafe & Catering

    Catering

    What a Dish Cafe & Catering Photos

    WHAT A DISH CAFE & CATERING ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - What a Dish Cafe & Catering

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    Adele M.

    Amazing food, service & setting in which to have a great meal . Sitting outside on a beautiful sunny day. Their menu has just about anything you would crave. The people working are there to please and show you a great experience. We come here often. Also a great place for cakes & any pastries you might want.

    Chilaquiles
    Mikayla G.

    Came here for brunch with friends and had a great time! The food was delicious- one of the best eggs benedict's I've had (and I've had a lot). The hot chai latte was also so good. The vibes were great. My only slight complaint was that they asked us to leave when we were done and just chatting because they had a reservation. The host did it nicely, but we had been there less than 80 minutes.

    BYOO - egg white omelette
    Erin K.

    Such a cute brunch/lunch spot in Dana Point, especially now that so many shops are closed in the harbor! The restaurant had plenty of open tables at lunch time on a weekday. We ordered the Brunch Bowl and a BYO Omelette. Super happy that the omelette was able to be made with egg-whites only! The Brunch Bowl was packed with vegetables I was hoping for, but the portion was smaller than I expected an overall a bit too salty for my liking. The prices felt a bit high; the brunch bowl was a great portion for me, but for someone with a larger appetite, I think it would have left them hungry. The cupcakes were also on the smaller side being sold for $5.

    Avocado toast
    Tracy F.

    Rainy-day brunch plans sent us indoors, and luckily we snagged a table inside at What a Dish Café. On a warmer, drier day, the patio would be really cute and inviting. Ordering is done at the counter, and they bring your food out when it's ready--easy enough. I decided to go with a lunch plate instead of breakfast, and honestly... that was my mistake. I usually try to order things I wouldn't make at home, so I chose the tuna melt. Unfortunately, it was a letdown. For a café that's also a bakery, I was expecting something more than basic white toast. The tuna itself was pretty mediocre--my homemade version is definitely better. Watching another table receive the chilaquiles didn't help; they looked amazing and exactly what I should have ordered. Lesson learned. Overall, the vibe was nice and the setup is casual, but the food didn't win me over this time. Not sure there will be a next visit, but if there is, I'd stick to breakfast.

    Inside
    Gwyneth N.

    The dish classic 4/5 It was very aesthetic and the food was decent! I will say overall I wish there were more pancake options besides only blueberry. Overall would try again!

    Steak & Chop Romain Salad- terrible & weird
    Maddison H.

    After coming here multiple times and being continually disappointed, it's time for a review. Service/Ambience: Today I went to meet a friend and sit outside since we'd be having 2 strollers with us, when I showed up there were plenty of one tables- but every single one was filled with old plates and table numbers. I tried to flag someone down for a while but eventually had to go in and request a table to be cleaned, to which the man gave me a hard time, and the women next to him eventually said she would go and do it. At the table I asked for a napkin for my baby (I wanted to use the cloth napkin as a little bib since I'd left his) & the waiter came back with a few paper napkins- I thanked him but asked for a cloth napkin, to which he looked put out but said OK, and then never came back. Food: Oh man. Bad bad. My food: my friend and I both got the Steak Chop Salad and it was probably the weirdest salad I've ever eaten in my life. Little medallions of steak were plopped on top of wilted (I suppose grilled?) full heads of lettuce (unchopped), looking like little mini burgers and I honestly didn't even taste dressing, just oil from the (supposed) grilling of the lettuce- so weird. SO hard to eat. The plate was also small and skinny, so since you had to chop everything up yourself and it was a strange mix of crispy romaine tips and soggy, wet, wilted romaine middles that were hard to cut everything spilled off of the plate as you tried. Ordered a cup of fruit for my baby- $4 for 4 blueberries, 2 strawberries, and a couple sad cubes of honeydew. Ordered roasted veggies as well, these were *very* oily bht the side was relatively large. My friend & i shared a side of sweet potato fries, those weren't bad- definitely the next part of the meal but that wasn't saying much. It's a shame because this place is so cute and is situated in a perfect spot, they could do really well. I've now been here multiple times and every time the food has been overpriced, disappointing, and coupled with bad service. I won't be going back :/

    Arnold Palmer
    Darrell P.

    What a Dish Café Cafe is one of those local gems that instantly makes you feel at home. Whether you're stopping in for brunch or grabbing a quick coffee and pastry, the atmosphere is warm, relaxed, and welcoming. AR suggested we come here - she'd visited before and thought I'd enjoy it. Always up for trying something new, we stopped by on a late Saturday afternoon, drawn by the promise of al fresco dining on their shaded patio. Our order included: Arnold Palmer Champagne spritzer Truffle mac & cheese Calamari Grilled plate (roasted vegetables) Coconut shrimp Bacon-wrapped dates Sweet Potato Fries Opting for the patio was definitely the right call - plenty of shade and a comfortable breeze. (Thumbs up) That said, the food was just okay overall. (AR had commented that she remembered it being much better.) Everything was nicely presented and perfectly fine, but a few dishes lacked the spark or standout flavor I'd expected given the café's reputation. Service was also on the slower side - possibly a sign they were a bit understaffed that day. Despite that, What a Dish Cafe remains a charming neighborhood spot - a blend of cozy ambiance, community spirit, and approachable fare. A solid choice for a laid-back breakfast, brunch, or light lunch. - Big Aloha! Food: 3 Ambiance: 4 Service: 3+ Value: 3

    Pupcake
    Shaza R.

    I always love coming to this restaurant. Good food, good service, and cute location. I really enjoy that they are pet friendly with a few items to choose from. My dog is a picky eater and he loved the pupcakes. Not pictured was a Bloody Mary and I will say that it was delicious! We asked for extra spicy and it did not disappoint. Spicy, strong and to the point. What a dish is definitely a local favorite. Chilaquiles were tasty and very large but I just wish that the chips were a little lest soft.

    Laura S.

    If I could give a 3.8 rating, I'd do that. The location is nice, the staff were great, the presentation was great, the service was very good. There are tables inside and outside. Outside there are umbrellas for hot sunny days and heaters for cooler days. ... 3.5. because the crab cakes did not appear to have much crab in them and they had a lot of fried breading. The coconut shrimps were better, but again, a lot of fried breading. The hummus with pita was very good. I'll have to go back and try their breakfast food.

    Water
    Tameka L.

    Located in Dana Point across the street from well known hot spots like Baby Beach and Dana Point Harbor. Free parking is available in a nearby lot. There is seating available both inside and outside of the cafe. I opted to sit outside to enjoy the mild temps. Order at the counter and it will be brought out to you. The happy hour menu caught my eye but I was there for breakfast. Ordered Dad's Classic it comes with two blueberry buckwheat pancakes, 2 eggs ,and I chose chicken sausage. I would have preferred a more flavorful meat choice.The meal was good, but I was able to try the eggs Benedict and that was better.

    Steak & Chop Romain Salad
    Pete C.

    We wanted to take advantage of the beautiful weather and drive down the Arches in Dana Point. While there we searched for a Dog friendly lunch spot and found What a Dish Cafe. It is in a shopping center across the street from water with a few other restaurants. It is tucked away a bit but worth looking for. They are fast casual in that you order at the table and they bring the food out to you. Typically this means very little interaction with the serving staff but on here. The staff was very friendly and cared about us and our pup. The food was great. I was having a hard time deciding on what to order and after a short conversation with Tim at the counter I landed on the Braised Short Rib Slider. My wife orders the steak salad. Both were great. They also had a lot of baked goods including some dog treats that our pup absolutely loved. I certainly plan on going back.

    Great food, the cutest setting and great service. Right across from Dana point Harbor, so you can take a nice walk before or after also.
    Susan S.

    Well... I frequent this restaurant all the time and the food and service is always great. Very cute patio setting. Tonight we came to dinner and we were treated to rude behavior by a girl. She is an expert in rolling her eyes and being very rude. I've met the owner many times I hope he takes care of his problem that worked tonight Thursday 11/21. She's extremely unprofessional, nasty and not a good representative of your restaurant.

    B "B" Dock
    Christine M.

    Food is really good, the service was excellent, they ask politely what I need and make sure I get it. Ambiance is beautiful, nice comfortable chairs and benches. Literally feels like a vacation spot to enjoy.

    Guacamole, breakfast burrito, four legged friend, chicken and pasta

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    2 months ago

    Casual vibe, fresh ingredients, great service. Plenty of parking makes it easy to choose this place .

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    Superb place for brunch. Location service ambience!! Food is incredible and a pretty exhaustive menu

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    Page 1 of 31

    Ask the Community - What a Dish Cafe & Catering

    Hi, it's been a year since I've asked. Just wondering if you now serve gluten-free pancakes thanks.?

    I saw the previous question and answer said there aren't any gluten-free pancakes but I see buckwheat pancakes on the menu and buckwheat itself contains no gluten. So are these pancakes gluten-free?

    Thank you for the question, yes our buckwheat pancakes are gluten-free:)

    Do you have any gluten free bread pancakes or French toast also for dinner do you have any gluten-free pasta?

    Yes we have Gluten-Free French Toast and Pasta upon request but at this time we do not have Gluten-Free Pancakes but we are working on a recipe.

    Are you still doing live music on Sundays? What time?

    Yes we do have Live Music every Sunday from 1:30pm-4:30pm, come join us on our beautiful outdoor patio, we have room for everyone.

    Can you tell me if you serve gluten free bread's?

    Yes we do have Gluten-Free bread, just ask our server to replace any order with our fresh Gluten-Free Bread.

    Are they still doing bottomless mimosas?

    I would bet they are. How it worked when we went - we had to order a bottle of bubbly and a small OJ or cranberry juice and it was a great price for it . We had our bottomless for a much better price then if we were to order two drinks . You can… Read more

    What's the parking situation like?

    We have two Parking lots in front and two additional in back of the building we look forward to serving you.

    Are pets allowed?

    Yes! The large patio is pet friendly. They offer a water bowl for dogs and sell dog treats.

    Do you require a reservation for Sunday brunch?

    No reservations are accepted:(:(

    What hours are brunch? And are bottomless mimosas all day?

    No more bottomless mimosas during Covid - they offer a bottle of champagne and a small side of OJ or cranberry juice or grape fruit juice for $18.00 . As for the hours - not sure it was 1:00 pm… Read more

    Are there gluten free options?

    Many

    Do they accommodate large parties (15 guest)?

    Yes...call ahead to make reservations.

    What days do they serve bottomless mimosas?

    Every day is bottomless mimosas DAY .. Yay .. !!

    View All 19 Questions

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    4.3(652 reviews)
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    Quality Lobster, really good bread, great owners, best place to get a lobster roll in OCread more

    came here for a quick bite on valentines day. rating would've been ~3 stars, but the service really…read moremessed it up for me and my partner one of the owners (i'm assuming) took our order, but he repeated the same things many times, to the point where i asked for the receipt at the end to make sure everything was correct (and good thing i did, too). they then gave what i'm assuming was our order to another couple, and also served people who arrived after us. i had to get up and hang out by the cashier for them to notice me, and they didn't know whose order was tied to who since they almost gave away our order to someone else again. the cashier man even said "was i the one who took your order?" when he did literally 15 minutes ago. then, when they finally called our name, they gave us a packaged to-go order when we wanted to dine in, and the order was completely wrong. the other owner (i'm assuming his wife), went back and forth to the kitchen 3 more times to either correct our order or bring back things they forgot that we had to remind them to bring. even when we gave her the receipt i kept, the order would still come back wrong. the other parties served had finished eating and left by the time we finally got all of our food the staff was generally nice. they apologized a lot, thanked us for our patience, checked up on us, & offered 1 free coleslaw (~$3.50) and 2 little chocolates. but they didn't offer us any sort of real compensation and after messing up our order 3+ times, and being understanding about it, we were pretty surprised i am strict with lobster rolls since i'm always comparing it to what i've had during my time in boston (impossible to beat), and i thought the food was just alright. boyfriend thought it was pretty dry and not that tasty for $100+, i'd expect much better service and better food

    Photos
    The Lobster Shack - Just a view of where you order. There is inside seating, and a patio also.

    Just a view of where you order. There is inside seating, and a patio also.

    The Lobster Shack - You can look at this photo and see it's a cold gelatinus mess. Butter? NOPE

    You can look at this photo and see it's a cold gelatinus mess. Butter? NOPE

    The Lobster Shack - Very cute and welcoming.

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    Legends Seafood & Steakhouse - Ensalada Del Mar & 1000 Steps Beach Cocktail

    Legends Seafood & Steakhouse

    4.4(216 reviews)
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    2nd Anniversary Celebration What a beautiful evening !…read moreAnother class act hosted by Legends Seafood & Steak Restaurant last night ! Food and friends, enjoyed with a delicate oaky Chardonnay and robust Cabernet wine ! Ricardo and team never disappoint! Toast to many more years of fabulous food and events. Your staff is profession and friendly making an experience memorable. Thank you again for a top notch evening. Only suggestion : reduce noise level by adding some acoustical remedy in dinning room.

    The restaurant itself is nicely decorated and has a good atmosphere. Our server was wonderful and…read moreshe stayed on top of everything throughout the meal. As for the food, just don't go into it expecting Selanne's Steak Tavern or Mastro's. I specifically wanted halibut and ordered the panko halibut. The fish itself was good and not overly fishy, which I prefer, but overall it felt more like an upscale fish and chips dish than a true fine dining halibut entrée. The potatoes were good, but I didn't care for the pasta at all. It was very dry. The salad tasted good, but it was nowhere near worth the price. It had maybe two tomatoes and a light sprinkle of nuts. At $13, it felt extremely overpriced. Would I come back? Probably not. For the price, I expected more, and the fish was really the only thing I genuinely enjoyed. That said, it is a nice addition to the area since there honestly aren't many places around like it. The biggest downside for me was really the side dishes overall. The pasta and salad just didn't match the pricing or the level the restaurant seems to be aiming for. I also wasn't a fan of the music. The atmosphere would fit much better with more of a Frank Sinatra style instead of what sounded like generic 90s elevator music in the background. Overall, for the area, it's a nice spot. But for the price point, there are definitely better options.

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    Dining room interior

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    Glasspar - Curry Cod

    Glasspar

    4.1(623 reviews)
    0.0 mi
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    Wow! What a gem!! My boyfriend and I discovered Glasspar spontaneously on a Saturday late afternoon…read morewhile we were taking the trolley and enjoying the breezy free ride down the coast. We happened to stop nearby and decided to look around this plaza. We were starting to get hungry and Glasspar looks like the most appealing option so we decided to check it out. HAPPY HOUR: Mon-Thurs 4:30-6pm, Fri-Sat 4-6pm. Wow what a deal. I normally don't think about happy hour deals on Saturdays but we were pleasantly surprised. It was 5:30pm already so we had to make some quick decisions. Chad was very friendly and helpful with our order. We decided to get a Dozen and a Half Oysters (HH $3/each), an Oyster Shooter (HH $5), Duck Fat French Fries (HH $7), 1/2 lb Steamed Clams (HH $13), and Seafood Poke (HH $12). The specialty cocktails were such a good deal I wanted 2 but asked my boyfriend to order one so I don't look like too much of an alcoholic. I had the White Sangria Spritzer (HH $12) and a G3 (HH $12). Everything came out in a reasonable amount of time and Chad communicated checking on things for us as we were waiting. He was really on top of it. The oysters were awesome! My only regret was not ordering more. For the dozen and a half came with 6 of each of Baracats, Stingrays, and Pacific Plumps. I thought the baracats and stringrays were mild. My favorite was definitely the pacific plumps; it was sweet and creamy with a good bite to it. The shucking was also really well. I just want to give them that credit. The oyster shooter was strong, in a good way. Tasty! The duck fat fries were nice and crispy. It came with a rich truffle aioli. The steamed clams were good, but the slice of bread they gave us with it was burnt to an inedible level. I also would have liked a spoon to sip that garlic white wine and butter liquid. Clams were fresh. The seafood poke came with crispy wonton chips. It was decent. After our original order we decided we wanted to finish off with somethings small, so we got the Clam Chowder ($14). I would have liked it a smidge thicker in texture but the taste and the quality of ingredients are on point. I get the bacon essence and a good amount of clams in the soup too. I'm really glad we added that to our order. I also really like that the check comes in books. Chad told us that we can write a note in it if we want. They look at it like a way to interact with their customers. So cute!! We are DEFINITELY coming back here!! Next time I'll order even more oysters :)

    First time here and we loved it! All the food was so fresh and well plated. Service was wonderful…read more Environment wasn't super loud but also wasn't dead silent. Definitely a kid friendly place for the wide variety of dishes. I was so excited I forgot to take a picture of the Oyster Rockefellers. Those were tasty, decadent, but not too overwhelming. The cod fish had this curry sauce on it that was so good you could drink it. The inspirational dish of the day was this wild sea bass. It's so difficult to find a place that can prepare fish that isn't too dry or salty, Glasspar was fantastic.

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    Glasspar - Caesar salad

    Caesar salad

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    What a Dish Cafe & Catering - catering - Updated June 2026

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