Coastal Kitchen — Restaurant in Dana Point

I am updating my review below after receiving a phone call from the General Manager, Chelsea, who was incredibly apologetic and genuinely sincere in acknowledging that the manager mishandled our experience. She made it clear that this type of behavior is not acceptable at Coastal Kitchen and personally extended an apology on his behalf.

Her gracious and proactive approach truly stood out, demonstrating a strong commitment to customer service. Based on her thoughtful response, I am revising my review positively. Chelsea is a true asset to Coastal Kitchen, and her dedication to guest satisfaction is commendable. Terrible Experience – Rushed and Disrespected

A rainy evening, three friends sitting at the hightops by the bar, trying to enjoy a casual night out. We each ordered two drinks (wine & whiskey) and shared two appetizers. From the moment we sat down, we felt rushed—multiple waitresses repeatedly asked if we were ready to order dinner, despite us clearly still enjoying our drinks.

Before we even finished, we paid the bill, and soon after, the insufferable male manager approached us and said, “Ladies, there are a lot of people waiting outside for this table!” Just like that—no tact, no courtesy. The irony? There was an empty table right next to us, and with the rain, there wasn’t a single person actually waiting outside. The restaurant was half empty!

This blatant lack of customer service was appalling. They’ve lost our business for good. A word of advice to the owners: prioritize your paying customers and train your managers to be professional and courteous—not rude and dismissive, especially to recurring...

So after reading about this Hillstone copycat we finally decided to try it. Houston’s which is one of the Hillstone brands has changed their signature Tortilla Soup recipe and not liking the new version I decided to try the Coastal Kitchen version. I rate it a 9.5 copy of the original from Houston’s. It needed a little more cheese but was excellent in every other aspect and it alone will bring me back. The starter salad with the honey mustard dressing was on point and actually better than Houston’s. Our guests had the chowder which in every way resembled the Houston’s version. Their French Dip was enjoyed by our other guest and the fries were perfect. My wife’s blackened grouper sandwich was merely ok and quite frankly since most of the menu is an excellent Hillstone knockoff then I would suggest recreating the Gulfstream Gulf Coast Style Fish Sandwich. The only negative menu item we sampled was the Chicken BLT. It was not awful but the chicken was overcooked as was the bacon and it doesn’t even come close to competing with the Ding’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich at the Hillstone locations. I’m all for innovation and signature changes but if you’re going to do that then maintain the same high quality and taste standard for all the menu items. All of us agreed we will be back to try the rest of the menu for lunch and dinner. Service was excellent and the atmosphere although a little acoustically challenging was comfortable and inviting. I came close to rating this establishment five stars but they just fall a little short of that mark. Still well worth a visit and I hope to revise my rating in the future. Look out Hillstone you have a worthy challenger and that’s high...

Coastal Kitchen in Dana Point triumphantly merges modern aesthetics with culinary brilliance. A welcoming ambiance is instantly noticeable, harmonizing perfectly with the delightful offerings on the menu. Our server, Blake, was not only genuinely amicable but also showcased impressive wine knowledge, guiding us through excellent recommendations. A notable mention is their reasonable $15 corkage fee, permitting up to two bottles per table - an appreciable touch for wine aficionados.

The cocktails, particularly the Paloma Martini, were a vibrant, refreshing symphony of flavors. A citrusy zest provided a rejuvenating palate cleanse after a warm day, and the use of fresh grapefruit was unmistakable, all splendidly backed by a generous pour of quality rum.

Moving to the food, starters like the freshly made tortilla chips paired ingeniously with a kale and cheese dip, while the warm beetroot, adorned with walnuts and orange, introduced a creative and delectable twist. The baby back ribs were a meat lover's dream, providing hearty, sweet, and succulent bites, effortlessly falling off the bone. Paired with impeccable skin-on fresh-cut chips and an intriguingly delightful slaw with ranch, the dish was an unbridled joy.

Desert was a bright, punchy key lime pie, topped generously with a mountain of whipped cream, providing a zesty conclusion to a stellar dining experience. The noteworthy cleanliness, particularly of the toilets, was the cherry on top of a wonderful evening.

Coastal Kitchen effortlessly earns a 5/5 recommendation. Exceptional in every aspect - from cuisine to ambiance, and most certainly...