Rose Canyon Cantina & Grill — Restaurant in Rancho Santa Margarita

1/22/2025 What an amazing dining experience last evening. Andrea was our fantastic server. She was friendly, professional and efficient. We started with margaritas and boy are they good. I had the Cadillac and my wife had a frozen and I also had a mango. They were excellent. The ambiance is amazing and so therapeutic. For dinner we both had the enchilada entrees. My wife had the chicken and I had the beef. Everything was perfect and we so enjoyed our time there, the food, the people and the surroundings. Highly recommended

8/24/2024 Had a wonderful lunch today at Rose Canyon Cantina. Wendy was our server and the staff is so professional and kind. We started with margaritas as I had the Mango frozen and my wife had the Ranch water. Both were excellent. The ambiance is so special and takes you into a forest type background which is not only beautiful but peaceful. My wife and I both ordered the enchiladas suizas with rice and beans which was presented and served hot and tasty. We truly enjoyed our time dining, chatting and taking in the beauty of the Canyon. Highly recommended.

10/8/2023 Had a fantastic dining experience at Rose Canyon Cantina & Grill this evening. We met friends there and had a very nice table outside. We started with tequilla drinks and albondigas soup, which were quite good. Daniel was our server, and what a nice man and very patient. Daniel then took our entree orders, and my wife had the enchiladas suiza, and I had the grilled chicken salad on a tostada shell with a side of sour cream and guacamole. The food service and ambiance were commendable. I highly recommend this wonderful place

3/26/2023 What an amazing location with good food, service, and ambiance. Danny was our server and was stellar at his craft as was an exceptional server who provided great service, Ethan! The overall experience was simply perfect and were the drinks, food, and service. Good people, food, and service in a setting that is simply amazing. Highly recommended

Previous visit What a wonderful Saturday lunch with my wife at Rose Canyon Cantina. Great ambiance, food and service. We enjoyed the tasty margaritas and amazing food as well as the surroundings as the restaurant is tucked away in the Trabuco Canyon area. Such a peaceful and enjoyable time and the staff are all amazing and so...

Rose Canyon Cantina, is one of the magical hideaway places, away from the city, tucked into the hills with a beautiful natural surrounding. Approaching from the outside, it is a colorful restaurant with a large outdoor expansive deck shaded by large majestic trees and umbrellas. The trees are wrapped in strings of lights, making it feel even more enchanting at night. The water features, from the water fountain in front, to the really large waterfall in the back are spectacular.

The check in lobby area is small, but quaint and welcoming. The interior again proudly displays its colors, from the beautiful pictures, to the brightly lit bar displaying all the bottles and under lit green glow around the seating.

The staff is professional and friendly. I originally asked to dine in but quickly changed my mind after surveying the ambience out back. Once seated, I ordered their Signature happy hour margarita and decided upon a two item combination dinner to sample their fish taco and beef flauta. My +1 decided upon enchiladas with spinach and shrimp. After ordering, I excitedly began taking pictures of the surroundings.

Our order arrived in a short amount of time and the servers were fantastically attentive in providing drinks, water or anything else you might need. The food was hot and looked delicious. The items looked fresh and carefully made and authentic. The quality of the food was incomparable and high above any large chain Mexican restaurant. The food was savory and scrumptious.

I especially enjoyed my visit to Rose Canyon Cantina, from the backwoods drive through the hills going past Cook's Corner to this hidden little gem with extraordinary authentic Mexican fare.

This is one of those places you hesitate to tell too many others about, but plan to...

They over book giving NO Leeway and rush customers out the door. They actually told us right when we Arrived with a Reservation for 4:30, (before they even sat us) that we had until 6:30. I felt unwelcome right away. Then when server brought the bill at 6:30 and before we all even got the money out to pay , at 6:35, the hostess came and told us they needed the table. One of our party had gone to the ladies room. On her way out of the restroom the owner came to her and said, “Our girls have been asking you to leave”. The rest of our party had already gotten up and were leaving as instructed when this happened. Talk about the “bums rush”! We did go back inside to talk to the owner. She had several excuses including, “it started with Covid”. Oy vey. And “we are so busy we need to be able to set limits”. I get limits, I do, but 5min after the server brought our bill was rushing it. And to follow one of us to the restroom to complain?! How weird is that? Next time I’ll go somewhere welcoming and peaceful. I’ve been frequenting Rosas since 1970’s. Knew the Beardslees. Went to lunch there every work day when it was Senor Licos. We always take visitors from out of town to eat. Recommend it frequently. I’m glad Rosa’s is popular, but from now on I’ll find a less popular place where we are welcomed and not followed to the restroom and rushed out 5 mins after our two...