Nelson's — Restaurant in Rancho Palos Verdes

Nestled in the breathtaking location of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Nelson's at the Terranea Hotel boasts stunning ocean views that stretch for miles. The scenery alone sets a high expectation for the dining experience, and for the most part, it delivers.

The menu, while concise, offers a range of options suitable for modern diets, ensuring there's something for everyone. My meal began with a locally brewed IPA, which was incredibly refreshing and the perfect start to the afternoon.

For the main course, I opted for the blackened salmon salad—a visually stunning dish featuring a beautiful piece of Atlantic salmon atop mixed greens, dried cranberries, feta cheese, and butternut squash. The salmon was cooked to perfection, with a wonderful blackened crust. However, the butternut squash was a bit rubbery and made the salad feel too heavy. It felt like the squash was competing with the salmon for attention. A suggestion for the chef: consider swapping the butternut squash for candied pecans to add a delightful crunch without overwhelming the dish.

To finish the meal, I had the key lime pie. Unfortunately, it was a mediocre ending to an otherwise delightful meal. The pie tasted as if it had been made offsite and previously frozen, lacking the fresh, zesty punch that a good key lime pie should have.

The true highlight of Nelson's is its staff. The waitresses, waiters, and all the team members are what truly make this dining experience exceptional. They are efficient, friendly, and genuinely committed to providing top-notch service.

Overall, Nelson's offers a solid 4-star dining experience. The location and service are superb, with just a few tweaks needed in the kitchen to elevate the food to the same standard as its...

Great place to watch the sun set at the beautiful Terranea Resort. The atmosphere is beach casual party with indoor and outdoor seating and a small bar. The outdoor space is where Nelson’s shines; the outdoor space ranges between comfy tables for small parties to picnic tables in sand for large groups, all with fantastic views of the Pacific Ocean. The restaurant employs glass breeze shields, retractable awnings, and heaters to keep guests comfortable between the sun and sea breezes. There is a loud bell to announce whale sightings; we didn’t see any whales but saw many dolphins right from our table. The kids we saw on our visit seemed to have a good time. The service at Nelson’s was generally friendly and energetic from a staff that often seemed a bit too overloaded; we observed a few missteps including a long wait for drinks when the bar became completely overloaded and problems with the runners geting the right food to the right tables. The food is good beach food, mainly focused on sandwiches and fish—nothing special but seems like the food could be something more special with the right chef influence. The watermelon margarita was a great cocktail; the draft beer offering was small and regional but very good. I wouldn’t give this restaurant a high value rating; I felt the prices are currently too high for the quality, although I’d rather see the quality increase than the prices decrease. Reservations highly suggested for sunset seating, otherwise it’s not too difficult to get a table. This is a good restaurant with a uniquely incredible view that could become...

Date of Visit: 10/14/2023

Nelson's restaurant at Terranea Resort offers a beautiful view and a welcoming atmosphere, but my recent experience left me with mixed feelings. Here's a detailed review of our visit:

Ambiance and Service (4/5): Upon arriving at Nelson's, it's impossible not to be captivated by the stunning view. The restaurant's location overlooking the ocean is truly remarkable, making it a perfect spot for a relaxed meal. The staff were incredibly friendly, courteous, and accommodating, which added to the positive aspects of our visit.

Food (2/5): We ordered two burgers, a salad, and a kids' meal, and while the flavors were delightful, there were significant issues. First and foremost, it took an excruciatingly long 40 minutes to receive our food. This wait time was unexpected and far from ideal, especially for a meal that should be relatively quick to prepare.

Furthermore, the food arrived disappointingly cold. It was evident that our dishes had likely been sitting in the kitchen for an extended period before being brought to our table. This is unacceptable, particularly considering the price point of $26 per burger. The taste was there, but the temperature left much to be desired.

Conclusion (2/5): Nelson's at Terranea Resort offers a stunning location with a friendly staff that can't be faulted. However, the experience was marred by the kitchen's poor performance. A 40-minute wait for simple dishes and the delivery of cold food was frustrating, especially given the...