Whether you’re celebrating a promotion, marking an anniversary, or simply craving the briny kiss of the Pacific on your palate, you have a seafood craving to satisfy. And you’re looking for the right place to indulge it. Here, where the harbor meets the horizon, are the Dana Point spots that make the announcement for you.
Monarch Cafe
$$$ | (949) 248-3001 | WEBSITE
Monarch Cafe offers excellent seafood in a stunning Waldorf Astoria setting along a walking trail near the golf course. They like using fresh local ingredients here, so you’ll find things on the menu like the Lobster Crab Melt, along with Fish & Chips and Shrimp Scampi (consistently delicious). They do a great lunch and drinks service too, with things like oysters paired with wine.
The beautiful and spacious atmosphere with ocean views makes it an appropriate place to let your friends know that actually, you already booked your next family vacation here.
Jack’s Restaurant
$$$ | (949) 489-1903 | WEBSITE
Orange County has a lot of Italian restaurants, and most of them are in tourist areas. But Jack’s Restaurant is in Dana Point, and it combines everything we like about a neighborhood spot with everything we enjoy about Italian dining. So there’s delicious food and friendly service, all in a cozy, well-run atmosphere. It’s the right kind of setting for celebrating special occasions like weddings or anniversaries.
Enjoy eating in this warm, inviting environment while you can – you’ll probably be spending all your time telling friends about the eggplant parmigiana and lobster ravioli from now on.
Lupe’s
$ | (949) 558-5430 | WEBSITE
You’ve been craving authentic Mexican food for weeks, and it’s getting to that point where you’re tired of mediocre takeout. Well, good news – you’ve found Lupe’s, a reliable neighborhood spot in Dana Point. Tell your friends (and anyone else who’ll listen) about this place, which has a solid, comfortable vibe – kind of like a Mexican version of your favorite local hangout – and you can enjoy all the many flavors they somehow pack into dishes like the grilled fish taco and Al Pastor burrito.
Deal with any remaining cravings over one of their excellent Tamarindo Margaritas.
Wind & Sea Restaurant
$$ | (949) 496-6500 | WEBSITE
Wind & Sea Restaurant is a classic beach spot by the marina with extremely friendly service and consistently awesome, well-prepared food. The dishes are fresh and delicious, and the space is set up comfortably for both indoor and outdoor seating. You’ll find things like salmon, shrimp, and cheesecake dessert. This is the kind of place you can bring anyone. Like your grandparents, who will appreciate finding out that their lamp you brought to Antiques Roadshow turned out to be worth $150,000.
Craft House
$$ | (949) 481-7734 | WEBSITE
If you have good news to share, announce it at Craft House. It’s a perfect spot for elevated American fare with a casual yet sophisticated vibe. The bright, welcoming atmosphere will set the mood for whatever positive update you have to deliver – so bring a friend or date, order a Purple Rain cocktail and the phenomenal smash burger, and let everyone know you finally tried their Sunday brunch and are ready to discuss how excellent the food and drinks were.
Chart House
$$$ | (949) 493-1183 | WEBSITE
Sometimes you want a place that feels special, but still relaxed enough to enjoy the view. Try Chart House, a Dana Point seafood spot with delicious dishes like Alaskan Cod and Macadamia Encrusted Mahi-Mahi. This is where to go when you need to celebrate an anniversary that almost slipped your mind – or mark another occasion that deserves a nice bottle of wine.
The service is attentive enough that your water glass never stays empty, but not so formal that you feel rushed through those creative cocktails.
Raya
$$$$ | (949) 240-2000 | WEBSITE
Raya is a seafood restaurant that’s been designed to maximize ocean views, and it’s useful for a few types of occasions. You can go casual and get the pork pineapple bao buns and/or the brussel sprouts, but if you want something fancier, there’s also the highly recommended Branzino entree or the scallops. It’s a versatile coastal option, and a good place for making any announcement people will want to celebrate with a few post-dinner drinks while enjoying the live performances.
What A Dish Cafe & Catering
$ | (949) 276-4884 | WEBSITE
The good news is you finally decided to take that long weekend in Dana Point and found the perfect brunch spot. The bad news is you have to leave tomorrow. You want your friends to be as excited about this place as you are, but a certain amount of jealousy on their part is probably inevitable. Tell them everything at What A Dish Cafe & Catering.
It’s charming enough that they’ll want to linger for hours, and the food is so good it will distract them from how much they’ve spent on pastries and desserts. Speaking of which, you should probably order the raspberry white chocolate cheesecake.
La Barra
$$ | (949) 558-5430 | WEBSITE
La Barra is a lively seafood spot in Dana Point offering Mexican-inspired coastal fare. The signature tacos (like the standout El Pastor and Quesabirria) are delicious enough to warrant a detour, even if you’re not already near Doheny State Beach. And the fun ambiance, complete with comfortable booths and really excellent skinny margaritas made by Victor, makes this a place you’ll want to settle into.
In other words, if your evening plans include a casual meet-up before or after the beach, this is a reliable choice.
Coastal Kitchen
$$ | (949) 449-2822 | WEBSITE
Coastal Kitchen is in Dana Point, but other than the fact that you pass a bustling bar on the way in, this place feels like a normal restaurant. Not only does it serve excellent food (we particularly like the crab cake salad with ruby grapefruit pieces and the trout dip), but the space seems to attract mostly loud-talkers. So basically, it’s the perfect spot to tell Mom that you’re getting a promotion.
Conveniently, the back dining room, with its pleasant decor, is perfect for a celebration dinner. You’re welcome.
Jon’s Fish Market
$ | (949) 496-2807 | WEBSITE
Jon’s Fish Market is perfect for seafood lovers who need to have a back-and-forth conversation. The service is attentive without being intrusive, and everything on the seafood menu is great for sharing. Plus, there are plenty of outdoor tables under the tent, so everyone will be able to hear your announcement at the same time.
Even more importantly, when you finally make it known that you’re leaving your law firm to become a wilderness survivalist, you’ll be able to fully appreciate all the reactions.